Quantitative determination of salidroside in rat plasma by on-line solid-phase extraction integrated with high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A method for the quantification of salidroside, a major biologically active compound in Rhodiola, in rat plasma by on-line SPE LC/MS/MS in negative electrospray mode was developed and validated. A column-switching instrument and two HPLC pumping systems were employed, and salicin was used as the internal standard. A Waters Oasis HLB extraction column and an Agilent TC-C(18) analytical column in a column-switching set-up with gradient elution were utilized. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were m/z 299.0/119.0 and 285.1/122.9 for salidroside and salicin, respectively. The standard curves were linear within a range of 50-5000 ng/mL using weighted linear regression analysis (1/x). The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variance ranged from 1% to 9%. The recovery was above 90%. The freeze/thaw and long-term stability were validated. This method was subsequently applied to a pharmacokinetic study of salidroside in rats.     

Quantification of 5-azacytidine in plasma by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography

5-Azacytidine (5AC), a nucleoside analogue and hypomethylating agent, has anticancer properties and has been utilized in the treatment of various malignancies. 5AC is unstable and rapidly hydrolyzed to several by-products, including 5-azacytosine and 5-azauracil. A sensitive, reliable method was developed to quantitate 5AC using LC/MS/MS to perform pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies on 5AC combination therapy trials. Blood samples were collected in a heparinized tube and immediately processed for storage. To increase the stability of 5AC in plasma, 25 ng/mL tetrahydrouridine was added to the plasma and snap frozen. Plasma samples were extracted using acetonitrile then cleaned up by Oasis MCX ion exchange solid-phase extraction cartridges. 5AC was separated on an YMC Jsphr M80 C(18) column with gradient elution of ammonium acetate (2 mM) with 0.1% formic acid and methanol mobile phase. 5AC elutes at 5.0 +/- 0.2 min with a total run time of 30 min. Identification was through positive-ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring mode at m/z+ 244.9-->113.0 for 5AC and m/z+ 242.0-->126.0 for 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine, the internal standard. The lower limit of quantitation of 5AC was 5 ng/mL in human plasma, and linearity was observed from 5 to 500 ng/mL fitted by linear regression with 1/x weight. This method is 50 times more sensitive than previously published assays and successfully allows studies to characterize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 5AC.     

Simultaneous determination of five toxic alkaloids in body fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A novel analytical method was developed and validated for the rapid and simultaneous analysis of five toxic alkaloids: Brucine, Strychnine, Ephedrine, Aconitine and Colchicine, in blood and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring (HPLC-ESI-MRM) mode. The linear range was 0.05-50.0 ng mL(-1) for Brucine, 0.1-50.0 ng mL(-1) for Strychnine and Ephedrine, 0.01-10.0 ng mL(-1) for Aconitine and Colchicine. The limits of quantification for Brucine, Strychnine, Ephedrine, Aconitine and Colchicine were found to be 0.03, 0.05, 0.20, 0.05, 0.01 ng mL(-1), respectively. The average extraction recoveries in urine ranged from 96.0 to 114.0% and in whole blood were 94.0 to 113.0%. The intra-day and inter-day RSDs were less than 8.3 and 10.6%, respectively. The five alkaloids could be well separated within 7 min in a single run. The established method should be suitable for the determination of trace alkaloids in body fluids.     

Determination of ritodrine in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive HPLC/MS/MS method was developed and evaluated to determine the concentration of ritodrine (RTD) in human plasma. Liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate was employed as the sample preparation method. The structural analogue salbutamol was selected as the internal standard (IS). The liquid chromatography was performed on a Hanbon Sci. & Tech. Lichrospher CN (150 mm x 4.6 mm, i.d., 5 microm) column (Hanbon, China) at 20 degrees C. A mixture of 0.03% acetic acid and methanol (50:50, v/v) was used as isocratic mobile phase to give the retention time 3.60 min for ritodrine and 2.94 min for salbutamol. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) in positive ionization mode was employed for mass detection. The calibration functions were linear over the concentration range 0.39-100 ng mL(-1). The intra- and inter-day precision of the method were less than 15%. The lower limit of quantification was 0.39 ng mL(-1). The method had been found to be suitable for application to a pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of 20mg ritodrine hydrochloride tablet to 18 healthy female volunteers. The half-life is 2.54+/-0.67 h.     

Rapid identification of vinca alkaloids by direct-injection electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry and confirmation by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A simple and rapid method for the identification of Vinca alkaloids from a crude extract of Catharanthus roseus G. Don (Apocynaceae) by direct-injection electrospray ionisation (ESI) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) has been developed. The alkaloids vindoline, vindolidine, vincristine and vinblastine were evaluated in a commercial extract of C. roseus using this method. Catharanthine and its isomers 19S-vindolinine and vindolinine were detected in the commercial product by direct injection ESI/MS/MS and confirmed by preparation and by HPLC-ESI/MS. For the characterisation of different fragment fingerprints, ESI/MS/MS is a sensitive, rapid and convenient technique by which to identify some constituents in complex and mixed plant extracts.     

Quantitative determination of helicid in rat biosamples by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

A simple liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–MS) method with highly improved sensitivities for the determination of helicid in rat bile, urine, feces and most tissues was developed. The tissues and feces were firstly homogenized mechanically using deionized water as the media. Bile, urine, tissues and feces homogenates were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction with n-butyl alcohol for sample preparation. The subsequent analysis procedures were performed on a Shimadzu LCMS2010A system (electrospray ionization single quadrupole mass analyzer). A Luna C₁₈ column (150 mm × 2.00 mm, 5 μm) was used as the analytical column, while a mixture of acetonitrile and ammonium chloride water solution was used as the mobile phase. The proportions of mobile phase were changed timely according to gradient programs. Chlorinated adducts of molecular ions [M+Cl]^? at m/z 319.00 and 363.05 were used to quantify helicid and bergeninum (internal standard), respectively. The method was validated to be accurate, precise and rugged with good linearity. The proposed method was successfully applied to the preclinical tissue distribution and excretion studies of helicid in rats.     

Rapid determination of gemifloxacin in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A method was developed for the determination of gemifloxacin (I) in human plasma using high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Prior to analysis, the protein in plasma samples was precipitated with acetonitrile containing [¹³C²H₃] gemifloxacin (II) to act as an internal standard. The supernatant was injected onto a PLRP-S column without any further clean-up. The mass spectrometer was operated in positive ion mode, employing a heat assisted nebulisation, electrospray interface. Ions were detected in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The assay requires 50 μl of plasma and is precise and accurate within the range 10–5000 ng/ml. The average within-run and between-run coefficients of variation were <11% at 10 ng/ml and greater concentrations. The average accuracy of validation standards was generally within ±7% of the nominal concentration. There was no evidence of instability of I in human plasma following three complete freeze–thaw cycles and samples can safely be stored for at least 6 months at −20°C. The method proved very robust and was successfully applied to the analysis of clinical samples from patients dosed with gemifloxacin.     

Determination of soyasaponins Ba and Bb in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid, sensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method (HPLC-MS-MS) has been developed and validated for the determination of soyasaponins Ba and Bb in human serum using glycyrrhizin as internal standard (I.S.). Soyasaponins Ba and Bb were extracted from human serum by liquid-liquid extraction and cleaned up by C(18) solid-phase extraction (SPE), followed by separation on a C(18) reversed-phase column using acetonitrile/water containing 0.025% acetic acid as a mobile phase for gradient elution. Soyasaponins Ba and Bb, and I.S. were ionized by negative ion pneumatically assisted electrospray and detected by HPLC-MS-MS in the multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using precursor-->product ion combinations at m/z 958-->940, 942-->924 and 822-->351, respectively. The calibration curves were linear (r(2)>0.991) in the concentration range of 0.5-100.0 ng/mL, with lower limits of quantification of 0.5 and 0.3 ng/mL for soyasaponins Ba and Bb, respectively, in human serum. Intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) were less than 7.9 and 11.3%, respectively. The mean recoveries of soyasaponins Ba and Bb ranged from 92 to 101% and from 85 to 94%, respectively.     

Quantitative determination of mitiglinide in human plasma by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A selective, rapid and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method was developed for the quantitative determination of mitiglinide in human plasma. With nateglinide as internal standard, sample pretreatment involved a one-step extraction with diethyl ether of 0.2 mL plasma. The separation was performed on an ACQUITY UPLCtrade mark BEH C(18) column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, i.d., 1.7 microm) with the mobile phase consisting of methanol and 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate (65:35, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. The detection was carried out by means of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in positive ion mode with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 1.080-5400 ng/mL, with a lower limit of quantification of 1.080 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) values were below 15% and accuracy (RE) was from -3.5% to 7.3% at all QC levels. The method was fully validated and successfully applied to a clinical pharmacokinetic study of mitiglinide in 10 healthy volunteers following oral administration.     

Quantitative determination of atractylenolide III in rat plasma by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

Atractylenolide III is a major active component in Atractylodes macrocephala. This paper describes a simple, rapid, specific and sensitive method for the quantification of atractylenolide III in rat plasma using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure followed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometric (LC-MS) analysis. A Kromasil 3.5 microm C(18) column (150 mm x 2.00 mm) was used as the analytical column. Linear detection responses were obtained for atractylenolide III concentration ranging from 5 to 500 ng L(-1). The precision and accuracy data, based on intra-day and inter-day variations over 5 days were within 10.29%. The lower limit of quantitation for atractylenolide III was 5 ng mL(-1), using 0.1 mL plasma for extraction and its recoveries were greater than 85% at the low, medium and high concentrations. The method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats after an oral administration of atractylenolide III with a dose of 20.0 mg kg(-1). With the lower limits of quantification at 5 ng mL(-1) for atractylenolide III, this method was proved to be sensitive enough for the pharmacokinetics study of atractylenolide III.     

Ultra-sensitive determination of Formoterol in human serum by high performance liquid chromatography and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

An analytical method was developed and validated to determine Formoterol in human serum in the range from 0.40 to 100.24 pg/mL by high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) due to the lack of efficient methods to determine very low levels of Formoterol in serum and plasma. Serum was diluted by water and mixed with the internal standard (d6-Formoterol). Formoterol and internal standard were extracted using a cation-exchange solid phase column (SCX-3). After eliminating endogenous serum constituents through washing steps with water and methanol, elution took place using methanol/ammonia. After evaporation of the elution liquid the residue was redissolved and analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS with electrospray ionisation (ESI) in positive mode. A gradient between 10 mM ammonium formate and acetonitrile was used. The inter-batch precision of the calibration standards ranged from 1.55% to 9.01%. The inter-batch accuracy of the calibration standards ranged from 93.37% to 107.30%. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ, 0.40 pg/mL) had a precision of 19.67% and an accuracy of 96.78%. Comparable results were obtained for quality control samples. Stability in human serum was given over three freeze/thaw cycles and 2h at room temperature. Formoterol in human serum was stable for at least 6 months below -20 degrees C. This method has been used widely for quantifying Formoterol after inhalation of 9-36 microg of the drug by volunteers. A cross validation with human plasma versus serum was performed after this method was successfully validated in human serum.     

Determination of metolazone in human blood by liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid, sensitive and accurate liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method is described for the determination of metolazone in human blood. Metolazone was extracted from blood using ethyl acetate and separated on a C18 column interfaced with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer. The mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile, 10 mmol/l ammonium acetate and formic acid (60:40:0.1, v/v/v) was delivered at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was operated in positive ion mode. Selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode using the transitions of m/z 366-->m/z 259 and m/z 321-->m/z 275 were used to quantify metolazone and the lorazepam (internal standard), respectively. The linearity was obtained over the concentration range of 0.5-500 ng/ml for metolazone and the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 0.5 ng/ml. For each level of QC samples, inter- and intra-run precision was less than 8.07 and 3.56% (relative standard deviation (RSD)), respectively, and the bias was within +/-4.0%. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of metolazone formulation after oral administration to humans.     

Simultaneous quantification of the new HIV protease inhibitors atazanavir and tipranavir in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

We have developed and validated an assay, using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), for the quantification of the novel protease inhibitors (PIs) atazanavir and tipranavir. The sample pre-treatment consisted of protein precipitation with a mixture of methanol and acetronitrile using 100 microl plasma for atazanavir and 50 microl for tipranavir. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an Inertsil ODS3 column (50 mm x 2.0 mm i.d., particle size 5 microm), with a quick stepwise gradient using an acetate buffer (pH 5) and methanol, at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. The analytical run time was 5.5 min. The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operated in the positive ion-mode and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for drug quantification. The assay was linear over a concentration range of 0.05-10 microg/ml for atazanavir and 0.1-75 microg/ml for tipranavir. Saquinavir-d5 was used as internal standard. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were less than 3.8% for atazanavir and less than 10.4% for tipranavir. Accuracies were within +/-7.3 and +/-7.2% for atazanavir and tipranavir, respectively. Both drugs were stable under various relevant storage conditions. The validated concentration ranges proved to be adequate to measure concentrations of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals. The developed method could easily be combined with a previously developed LC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of protease inhibitors.     

Determination of lysergide in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography combined with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

A quantitative method which avoids derivatisation is described for the determination of lysergide (LSD) levels in urine. Sample preparation included addition of methysergide as an internal standard followed by solid-phase extraction. LSD was analysed on a system consisting of a C₁₈ stationary phase and a mobile phase of 0.1 M acetate buffer pH 8.0-acetonitrile-triethylamine (75:25:0.25, v/v). LSD was detected by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring. The quantification limit was 0.5 ng/ml and the method was linear up to 10 ng/ml of LSD in urine.     

Separation and determination of Se-compounds by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray mass spectrometry

A method for Selenocystine and Selenomethionine determination by LC–ES–MS was developed in this work. The mass spectrometer was used in a positive mode and the m/z used for the identification of Selenomethionine and Selenocystine were 198.35 and 337.15, respectively.The selenium species were separated using a LC system. A silica chromatographic column (ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C₈ of 50 mm length and 2.1 mm internal diameter (particle size 3.5 μm)) was used. The separation was realised in isocratic mode, using methanol:water (1:1) with 1% of acetic acid and a flow rate of 200 μL min⁻¹. The developed method was precise (RSD of 4.5% and 3.9% for Selenomethionine and Selenocystine, respectively) and sensible (limit of detection (LOD) 0.06 and 0.99 mg L⁻¹ for selenomethionine and selenocystine, respectively).     

Chiral evaluation of fluvastatin in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry

The report describes for the first time the enantioselective analysis of fluvastatin in plasma using LC-MS-MS. The enantiomers of fluvastatin (FV) were extracted from plasma with diisopropyl ether at pH 5.0. The enantiomers were separated on a ChiralCel OD-R column with a mobile phase consisting of a mixture of acetonitrile, methanol and water (24:36:40) containing 0.1% formic acid. The protonated ions and their respective product ions were monitored in two functions, 410.6>348.2 for FV enantiomers and 307.1>161.6 for the internal standard (warfarin). Recoveries were higher than 90% and the quantitation limit was 1.5 ng mL(-1) plasma for both enantiomers. The coefficients of variation and the relative errors obtained for the validation of the intra- and interassay precision and accuracy were less than 10%. The method was applied to the investigation of the enantioselective pharmacokinetics of FV administered in a single dose of 40 mg (Lescol, Novartis, S?o Paulo, SP, Brazil) to a patient with primary hypertension and hypercholesterolemia and genotyped as CYP2C9*1/*1. The data showed higher plasma concentrations of the (-)-3S,5R-fluvastatin enantiomer, with an AUC (-)/(+) of 1.84. Oral clearance values (CL/F) were 29.27 and 49.58 L/h, respectively, for the (-)-3S,5R- and (+)-3R,5S-fluvastatin enantiomers.     

Simultaneous determination of residual tetracyclines in foods by high-performance liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

We established a method for precisely determining residual tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) in foods by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (APCI LC–MS–MS) using selected reaction monitoring with an internal standard. By setting the nebulizer probe temperature to 475°C, we were able to use a mobile phase containing oxalic acid without clogging problems at the APCI interface, since oxalic acid decomposes to carbon dioxide and water at high temperature. DMCTC was very effective as an internal standard for determining TCs in various foods. TCs were cleaned up using a Bond Elut ENV cartridge and analysed by APCI LC–MS–MS. The recovery of TCs from various foods including animal tissues, honey, milk, eggs, and fish fortified at levels of 0.05, 0.10, and 0.50 ppm averaged 60.1–88.9%, with an RSD of 1.2–8.7%. The detection limits were 0.001 ppm for OTC and TC, 0.004 ppm for CTC, and 0.002 ppm for DC. The present method was also successfully used to determine TCs in swine kidney samples that were previously found by microbiological assay.