Development and application of a chiral high performance liquid chromatography assay for pharmacokinetic studies of methadone

Methadone enantiomers and EDDP, the main metabolite of methadone, were separated (R(s) = 2.0 for methadone enantiomers) following liquid-liquid extraction from human serum and urine followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a derivatized beta-cyclodextrin column and quantified at therapeutic concentrations with ultraviolet detection. Detector response was linear (r(2) > 0.98) to 1,000 and 2,500 ng x mL(-1) for methadone enantiomers and EDDP, respectively. The limit of quantification from a 1-mL biological sample was 2.5 and 5 ng x mL(-1) for methadone enantiomers and EDDP, respectively. Interday variation was <13% and intraday variation was <8% for the analytes of interest. The assay was applied to plasma protein and erythrocyte binding studies and a 96-h pharmacokinetic study in two healthy female volunteers following oral dosing with rac-methadone. The binding of methadone to plasma proteins was enantioselective with the active (-)-(R) enantiomer having the highest free fraction (mean +/- SD: 21.2+/-7.6% vs. 13.3+/-6.2% for (+)-(S)-methadone, n = 8). Binding of methadone to erythrocytes was not apparently enantioselective (38.6+/-1.3% and 38.1+/-1.4% bound for (-)-(R)- and (+)-(S)-methadone, respectively). The pharmacokinetic study revealed enantioselective disposition of methadone in one volunteer but not in the other. EDDP was observed in urine but was only in small or undetectable concentrations in serum. The method is applicable to in vitro and pharmacokinetic studies of rac-methadone disposition in humans.     

Determination of methadone, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine, 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenylpyraline and methadol in meconium by liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

This paper details a validated liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS) method for the quantification of methadone, and its metabolites 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenylpyraline (EMDP) and methadol in human meconium. Limits of detection (LOD) were determined to be 1.0 ng/g for methadone, EDDP and EMDP and 2.5 ng/g for methadol. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for methadone, EDDP, EMDP were 5 and 25 ng/g for methadol. Linearity ranged from 5.0 to 500 ng/g. Following solid-phase extraction, no matrix effect was observed. This method proved to be suitable for the quantification of methadone, EDDP and EMDP and the semi-quantitation of methadol in meconium. Literature review revealed no other published LC-APCI-MS/MS method for the detection of methadone and its three main metabolites in meconium specimens.     

Quantitative determination of ondansetron in human plasma by enantioselective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A sensitive and enantioselective method was developed and validated for the determination of ondansetron enantiomers in human plasma using enantioselective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The enantiomers of ondansetron were extracted from plasma using ethyl acetate under alkaline conditions. HPLC separation was performed on an ovomucoid column using an isocratic mobile phase of methanol-5 mM ammonium acetate-acetic acid (20:80:0.02, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.40 mL/min. Acquisition of mass spectrometric data was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode, using the transitions of m/z 294-->170 for ondansetron enantiomers, and m/z 285-->124 for tropisetron (internal standard). The method was linear in the concentration range of 0.10-40 ng/mL for each enantiomer using 200 microL of plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for each enantiomer was 0.10 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-assay precision was 3.7-11.6% and 5.6-12.3% for R-(-)-ondansetron and S-(+)-ondansetron, respectively. The accuracy was 100.4-107.1% for R-(-)-ondansetron and 103.3-104.9% for S-(+)-ondansetron. No chiral inversion was observed during the plasma storage, preparation and analysis. The method was successfully applied to characterize the pharmacokinetic profiles of ondansetron enantiomers in healthy volunteers after an intravenous infusion of 8 mg racemic ondansetron.     

Enantioselective LC-MS/MS method for the determination of cloperastine enantiomers in rat plasma and its pharmacokinetic application

Cloperastine is a central antitussive used to reduce the frequency and intensity of coughing on a short-term basis. In this study, a reliable chiral LC-MS/MS technology has been developed for the quantification of cloperastine enantiomers in the rat plasma. Carbinoxamine was selected as the internal standard. The enantioseparation of cloperastine was performed on a Chiralpak IA column with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-water-ammonium hydroxide (80:20:0.1, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. Cloperastine enantiomers were detected by mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode with a positive electrospray ionization source. The method was validated over the linear concentration range of 0.05 to 10.0 ng/mL (5.0 × 10⁻⁴ ng to 0.10 ng) for both enantiomers. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for each analyte was determined as 0.05 ng/mL. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of intraday and interday precision was less than 13.9%, and the relative error (RE) of accuracy ranged from −5.4% to 6.1%, which were within the acceptance criteria. Finally, an application to the stereoselective pharmacokinetics of cloperastine in rats was successfully realized in our assay. The developed method on a commercially available Chiralpak IA column under isocratic mobile phase is advantageous to analyze cloperastine enantiomers in plasma samples collected for enantioselective metabolism or drug interaction studies.     

Use of large particles support for fast analysis of methadone and its primary metabolite in human plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

A bioanalytical method was developed for the quantitation of methadone (MTD) and its primary metabolite, (EDDP) in plasma. The extraction step was performed within a capillary column packed with large particles (35x0.3 mm I.D.; d(p) 30 micrometer) at high flow-rate conditions (450 microliter/min). The separation was performed on a microbore analytical column (55x2 mm I.D.; d(p) 3 micrometer) coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS). This procedure was based on a column-switching unit. Analytes of interest were retained on the precolumn by hydrophobic interactions and backflushed from the precolumn to the analytical column. The detection was carried out with a MS single quadrupole equipped with an electrospray interface. The total analysis time was 6 min. The limits of quantification were evaluated at 10 and 25 ng/ml for MTD and EDDP, respectively. At this level, good accuracies were obtained for both analytes with repeatability values less than 18%.     

Enantioselective determination of doxazosin in human plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using ovomucoid chiral stationary phase

An enantioselective and sensitive method was developed and validated for determination of doxazosin enantiomers in human plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The enantiomers of doxazosin were extracted from plasma using ethyl ether/dichloromethane (3/2, v/v) under alkaline conditions. Baseline chiral separation was obtained within 9 min on an ovomucoid column using an isocratic mobile phase of methanol/5 mM ammonium acetate/formic acid (20/80/0.016, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.60 mL/min. Acquisition of mass spectrometric data was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode, using the transitions of m/z 452 → 344 for doxazosin enantiomers, and m/z 384 → 247 for prazosin (internal standard). The method was linear in the concentration range of 0.100–50.0 ng/mL for each enantiomer using 200 μL of plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for each enantiomer was 0.100 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-assay precision was 5.0–11.1% and 5.7–7.6% for R-(−)-doxazosin and S-(+)-doxazosin, respectively. The accuracy was 97.4–99.5% for R-(−)-doxazosin and 96.8–102.8% for S-(+)-doxazosin. No chiral inversion was observed during the plasma storage, preparation and analysis. The method proved adequate for enantioselective pharmacokinetic studies of doxazosin after oral administration of therapeutic doses of racemic doxazosin.     

Chiral analysis of methadone and its major metabolites (EDDP and EMDP) by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Racemic methadone (MET) is administered to heroin users undergoing methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) in Australia. The enantiomers of methadone possess different pharmacological effects, and the enantioselective metabolism of methadone to its two major metabolites, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) and 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-1-pyrroline (EMDP) has been demonstrated. Therefore, a stereoselective method capable of quantifying methadone, EDDP and EMDP in biological samples could be of benefit in the monitoring of MMT patients. In particular, the analysis of hair samples would provide a means by which long-term monitoring of MMT patients could be achieved. To date, no HPLC method has been published for the simultaneous separation of the six enantiomers. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the chiral analysis of methadone, EDDP and EMDP was developed using an alpha-glycoprotein (AGP) stationary phase. The method development involved the utilisation of factorial analysis experimental designs and the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to model the chromatographic response surfaces. The optimal conditions were determined to be 20mM acetic acid: isopropanol (93:7, pH 7.4), with a flow rate of 0.9mL/min. The method was validated and subsequently applied to the analysis of 20 hair samples collected from MMT patients.     

Enantioselective analysis of unbound tramadol, O-desmethyltramadol and N-desmethyltramadol in plasma by ultrafiltration and LC-MS/MS: application to clinical pharmacokinetics

This study describes the enantioselective analysis of unbound and total concentrations of tramadol and its main metabolites O-desmethyltramadol (M1) and N-desmethyltramadol (M2) in human plasma. Sample preparation was preceded by an ultrafiltration step to separate the unbound drug. Both the ultrafiltrate and plasma samples were submitted to liquid/liquid extraction with methyl t-butyl ether. Separation was performed on a Chiralpak(?) AD column and tandem mass spectrometry consisting of an electrospray ionization source, positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring was used as the detection system. Linearity was observed in the following ranges: 0.2-600 and 0.5-250 ng/mL for analysis of total and unbound concentrations of the tramadol enantiomers, respectively, and 0.1-300 and 0.25-125 ng/mL for total and unbound concentrations of the M1 and M2 enantiomers, respectively. The lower limits of quantitation were 0.2 and 0.5 ng/mL for analysis of total and unbound concentration of each tramadol enantiomer, respectively, and 0.1 and 0.25 ng/mL for total and unbound concentrations of M1 and M2 enantiomers, respectively. Intra- and interassay reproducibility and inaccuracy did not exceed 15%. Clinical application of the method to patients with neuropathic pain showed plasma accumulation of (+)-tramadol and (+)-M2 after a single oral dose of racemic tramadol. Fractions unbound of tramadol, M1 or M2 were not enantioselective in the patients investigated.     

Chiral bioanalysis of torcetrapib enantiomers in hamster plasma by normal-phase liquid chromatography and detection by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive and enantioselective assay has been developed and validated for the estimation of torcetrapib (TTB) enantiomers [(+)-TTB and (-)-TTB] in hamster plasma with chiral liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization interface in the negative-ion mode. The assay procedure involves liquid-liquid extraction of TTB enantiomers and IS (DRL-16126) from 100 microL hamster plasma with acetonitrile. TTB enantiomers were separated using n-hexane:propanol (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min on a Chiralpak AD column. The MS/MS ion transitions monitored were 599.2-->340.2 for TTB and 623.2-->298.1 for IS. Absolute recovery was found to be between 64 and 68% for TTB enantiomers and >100% for IS. The standard curves for TTB enantiomers were linear (r(2)>0.995) in the concentration range 5-2500 ng/mL for each enantiomer with an LLOQ of 5 ng/mL for each enantiomer. The inter- and intra-day precisions were in the range of 10.5-12.4 and 9.15-11.5% and 3.75-12.9 and 5.16-12.5% for (+)-TTB and (-)-TTB, respectively. Accuracy in the measurement of quality control (QC) samples was in the range 91.3-105 and 88.6-111% for (+)-TTB and (-)-TTB, respectively. This novel method has been applied to the study of stereoselective oral pharmacokinetics of (-)-TTB.     

Enantioselective determination of cetirizine in human plasma by normal-phase liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive and enantioselective method has been developed and validated for the determination of levocetirizine [(R)-cetirizine] in human plasma by normal-phase liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface in the positive ion mode. Enantioselective separation was achieved on a CHIRALPAK AD-H column using an isocratic mobile phase consisting of a mixture of n-hexane, ethyl alcohol, diethylamine, and acetic acid (60:40:0.1:0.1, v/v/v/v). Levocetirizine-D(8) was used as an internal standard (IS). Levocetirizine and the IS were detected by multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM). Mass transitions of analyte and IS were m/z 389.2→201.1 and 397.2→201.1, respectively. Under optimized analytical conditions, a baseline separation of two enantiomers and IS was obtained in less than 11 min. Samples were prepared by a simple two-step extraction by protein precipitation using acetonitrile followed by liquid-liquid extraction with a n-hexane-dichloromethane mixture (50:50, v/v). The standard curve for levocetirizine was linear (r(2)>0.995) in the concentration range 0.5-300 ng/mL. Recovery was between 97.0 and 102.2% at low, medium, and high concentration. The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.5 ng/mL. Other method validation parameters, such as precision, accuracy, and stability, were very satisfactory. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to the study of enantioselective oral pharmacokinetics of levocetirizine in healthy Korean volunteers.     

Enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of methadone and its main metabolite in urine using an AGP and a C8 column coupled serially

A simple and sensitive method for the enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of methadone and its main metabolite, EDDP, in human urine is described. (−)-(R)-Methadone, (+)-(S)-methadone, (+)-(R)-EDDP, (−)-(S)-EDDP and imipramine as an internal standard are detected by ultraviolet detection at 200 nm. The enantiomers of methadone and EDDP were extracted from human urine by a simple liquid–liquid extraction procedure. The extracted sample was reconstructed in mobile phase and the enantiomers of methadone and EDDP were quantitatively separated by HPLC on a short analytical LiChrospher RP8 column coupled in series with a chiral AGP column. Determination of all four enantiomers was possible in the range of 0.03 to 2.5 μM. The recoveries of methadone enantiomers and EDDP enantiomers added to human urine were about 90% and 80%, respectively. The method was applicable for determination of methadone enantiomers and the enantiomers of its main metabolite in urine samples from methadone maintenance patients and patients suffering from severe chronic pain.     

Quantitative determination of the enantiomers of methadone and its metabolite (EDDP) in human saliva by enantioselective liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

A sensitive enantioselective liquid chromatographic assay with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS) has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of saliva concentrations of (R)- and (S)-methadone (Met) and (R)- and (S)-2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenyl-pyrrolidine (EDDP, a primary metabolite of Met). Saliva specimens were collected using Salivette devices (Sarsedt), and centrifuged; collected saliva was then spiked with deuterated internal standards, D3-Met and D3-EDDP, and directly injected into the LC-MS. Enantioselective separations were achieved on a liquid chromatographic chiral stationary phase (CSP) based upon immobilized alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile: ammonium acetate buffer (10mM, pH 7.0) in a ratio of 18:82 (v/v), a flow rate of 0.9 ml/min and a temperature of 25 degrees C. Under these conditions, enantioselective separations were observed for methadone (alpha=1.30) and EDDP (alpha=1.17) within 15 min. Met, EDDP, D3-Met and D3-EDDP were detected using selected ion monitoring at m/z 310.20, 278.20, 313.20 and 281.20, respectively. Linear relationships between peak height ratio and drug-enantiomer concentrations were obtained for methadone in the range of 5.0-600.0 ng/ml, and for EDDP from 0.5 to 15.0 ng/ml per enantiomer with correlation coefficients better than 0.9994, where lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for Met was 5 ng/ml and for EDDP 0.5 ng/ml. Acceptable intra- and inter-day precision of the method (CVs<4.0%) and accuracy (CVs<4.0%) were obtained. These findings demonstrate the accuracy and precision of the method used to successfully analyze saliva obtained from patients enrolled in a methadone-maintenance program.     

Enantioselective pharmacokinetics of lercanidipine in healthy volunteers

OBJECTIVE: The enantioselective kinetic disposition of lercanidipine, a dihydropyridine type of third-generation calcium antagonist, was investigated in six healthy male volunteers following a single 20 mg racemic oral dose. METHODS: Serial plasma samples were obtained from 0 to 24 h after drug administration. Lercanidipine enantiomers were analysed using a chiral LC-MS-MS method. RESULTS: The following differences (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon test) between (S) and (R) enantiomers were found (median): C(max) 2.071 ng mL(-1) versus 1.681 ng mL(-1); AUC(0-24)12.352 ng h mL(-1) versus 10.063 ng h mL(-1) and Cl/f 732.16 L h(-1) versus 1891.84 L h(-1). The AUC(0-infinity) values for (S)-LER were 1.21-fold higher than those for (R)-LER. CONCLUSION: The pharmacokinetics of LER was enantioselective in healthy volunteers following a single dose of 20 mg of the unlabeled racemic drug.     

Analysis of Oxcarbazepine and the 10‐Hydroxycarbazepine Enantiomers in Plasma by LC‐MS/MS: Application in a Pharmacokinetic Study

Oxcarbazepine is a second‐generation antiepileptic drug indicated as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures or generalized tonic–clonic seizures in adults and children. It undergoes rapid presystemic reduction with formation of the active metabolite 10‐hydroxycarbazepine (MHD), which has a chiral center at position 10, with the enantiomers (S)‐(+)‐ and R‐(?)‐MHD showing similar antiepileptic effects. This study presents the development and validation of a method of sequential analysis of oxcarbazepine and MHD enantiomers in plasma using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). Aliquots of 100 μL of plasma were extracted with a mixture of methyl tert‐butyl ether: dichloromethane (2:1). The separation of oxcarbazepine and the MHD enantiomers was obtained on a chiral phase Chiralcel OD‐H column, using a mixture of hexane:ethanol:isopropanol (80:15:5, v/v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.3 mL/min with a split ratio of 1:5, and quantification was performed by LC‐MS/MS. The limit of quantification was 12.5 ng oxcarbazepine and 31.25 ng of each MHD enantiomer/mL of plasma. The method was applied in the study of kinetic disposition of oxcarbazepine and the MHD enantiomers in the steady state after oral administration of 300 mg/12 h oxcarbazepine in a healthy volunteer. The maximum plasma concentration of oxcarbazepine was 1.2 µg/mL at 0.75 h. The kinetic disposition of MHD is enantioselective, with a higher proportion of the S‐(+)‐MHD enantiomer compared to R‐(?)‐MHD and an AUC^0‐12 _{S‐(+)/R‐(?)} ratio of 5.44. Chirality 25:897–903, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography determination of methadone enantiomers and its major metabolite in human biological fluids using a new derivatized cyclodextrin-bonded phase

The simultaneous determination of methadone (Mtd) enantiomers and its major metabolite, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), in human urine and serum by enantioselective HPLC using a new Cyclobond I-2000 RSP column is described. After alkaline extraction from urine or serum with estazolam as an internal standard, Mtd enantiomers and its metabolite (EDDP) are separated on the previous column with reversed-mobile phase and detected at 210 nm. Peak resolutions are about 2.0 for Mtd enantiomers. The relative standard deviations (R.S.D.) of Mtd and EDDP standards are between 0.5 and 4.5%. Most drugs of abuse are shown not to interfere with this technique. The method has been applied to study levels of each Mtd enantiomer and of its racemic metabolite in urine and serum of patients under maintenance treatment for opiate dependence. In urine, R-(−)-Mtd levels are always higher (about 2±0.5-fold_ than those of S-(+)-Mtd and in most cases, metabolite concentrations are greater than those of global Mtd enantiomers. However, the R-(−) enantiomer levels of residual drug in serum of some patients were lower than those of its antipode. This method is suitable for pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies of Mtd enantiomers and its major metabolite in biological fluids.     

Enantioselective assay of nisoldipine in human plasma by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography combined with gas chromatographic−mass spectrometry: applications to pharmacokinetics

Nisoldipine, a second-generation dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, is a racemate compound used in the treatment of hypertension and coronary heart disease. This study presents an enantioselective HPLC-GC–MS method for the analysis of nisoldipine in human plasma and establishes confidence limits for its application to pharmacokinetic studies. Plasma samples were basified and extracted with toluene. The enantiomers were resolved on a Chiralcel^® OD-H column using hexane–ethanol (97.5:2.5, v/v) and the (+)- and (−)-fractions were collected separately with the diode array detector switched off. For the quantification of the nisoldipine enantiomers a GC–MS with an Ultra 1 Hewlett-Packard column was used with the detector operated in the single-ion monitoring mode with electron-impact ionization (m/z 371.35 and 270.20 for nisoldipine and m/z 360.00 for the internal standard, nitrendipine). The method proved to be suitable for pharmacokinetic studies based on the low quantification limit (0.05 ng/ml for each enantiomer) and the broad linear range (0.05–50.0 ng/ml for each enantiomer). Low coefficients of variation (<15%) were demonstrated for both within-day and between-day assays. No interference from drugs associated with nisoldipine treatment was observed. The enantioselective pilot study on the kinetic disposition of nisoldipine administered in the racemic form to a hypertensive patient using a multiple dose regimen revealed the accumulation of the (+)-enantiomer with an AUC^0–24 (+)/(−) ratio of approximately 8. Both enantiomers were quantified in plasma at a time interval of 24 h. This HPLC-GC–MS method is reliable, selective and sensitive enough to be used in clinical pharmacokinetic studies on the enantioselective disposition of nisoldipine in humans.     

Determination of Trantinterol Enantiomers in Human Plasma by High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography – Tandem Mass Spectrometry Using Vancomycin Chiral Stationary Phase and Solid Phase Extraction and Stereoselective Pharmacokinetic Application

A sensitive and enantioselective vancomycin chiral stationary phase high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of trantinterol enantiomers in human plasma. Baseline resolution was achieved using the vancomycin chiral stationary phase known as Chirobiotic V with polar ionic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile–methanol (60:40, v/v) containing 0.01% ammonia and 0.02% acetic acid at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Waters Oasis HLB C18 solid phase extraction cartridges were used in the sample preparation of trantinterol samples from plasma. The detection was performed on a triple‐quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer by multiple reaction monitoring mode via electrospray ionization. The calibration curve was linear in a concentration range from 0.0606 to 30.3 ng/mL in plasma, with the lower limit of quantification of 0.0606 ng/mL. The intra‐ and interday precision (relative standard deviation) values were within 9.7% and the accuracy (relative error) was from ?6.6 to 7.2% at all quality control levels. The method was successfully applied to a study of stereoselective pharmacokinetics in human. Chirality 27:327–331, 2015.© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Determination of 17 illicit drugs in oral fluid using isotope dilution ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with three atmospheric pressure ionizations

The collection of oral fluid for drug testing is easy and non-invasive. This study developed a drug testing method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) in selected-reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. We tested the method on the analysis of four opiates and their metabolites, five amphetamines, flunitrazepam and its two metabolites, and cocaine and its four metabolites in oral fluid. 100-μL samples of oral fluid were diluted with twice the amount of water then spiked with isotope-labeled internal standards. After the samples had undergone high-speed centrifugation for 20 min, we analyzed the supernatant. The recovery of the sample preparation ranged from 81 to 108%. We compared the performance of electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). The ion suppression of most analytes on ESI (28-78%) was lower than that of APCI and APPI. A post-column flow split (5:1) did not reduce the matrix effect on ESI. Direct APPI performed better than dopant-assisted APPI using toluene. ESI, APCI and APPI limits of quantitation mostly ranged from 0.11 to 1.9 ng/mL, 0.02 to 2.2 ng/mL and 0.02 to 2.1 ng/mL, respectively, but were much higher on amphetamine and ecgonine methyl ester (about 2.7-4.7 ng/mL, 8.7-14 ng/mL, and 10-19 ng/mL, respectively). Most of the bias percentages (accuracy) and relative standard deviations (precision) on spiked samples were below 15%. This method greatly simplifies the process of sample preparation and shortens the chromatographic time to only 7.5 min per run and is able to detect analytes at sub-ppb levels.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic/electrospray ionization mass spectrometric method for the determination of salidroside in rat plasma: application to the pharmacokinetics study

A sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) method has been developed and validated for the identification and quantification of salidroside, a major active constituent from Rhodiola rosea L., in rat plasma using helicid as an internal standard. The method involves a simple single-step liquid-liquid extraction with n-butanol. The analytes were separated by isocratic gradient elution on a Shim-pack ODS (4.6 microm, 250 mmx2.0 mm i.d.) column and analyzed in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode with a negative electrospray ionization (ESI) interface using the respective [M+Cl]- ions, m/z 335 for salidroside, m/z 319 for internal standard. The method was validated over the concentration range of 5-2000 ng/mL for salidroside. Within- and between-batch precision (R.S.D.%) were all within 6% and accuracy ranged from 96 to 112%. The lower limits of quantification was 5 ng/mL. The extraction recovery was on average 86.6% for salidroside. The validated method was used to study the pharmacokinetic profile of salidroside in rat plasma after intravenous and oral administration of salidroside. The bioavailability of salidroside in rats is 32.1%.     

Stereoselective determination of methadone and the primary metabolite EDDP in human plasma by automated on-line extraction and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry

A sensitive stereoselective bioanalytical liquid chromatographic assay with mass spectrometric detection (LC-MS) was developed and validated for the on-line extraction and quantification of R- and S-methadone and the primary metabolite R- and S-2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) from human plasma. Deproteinized plasma was injected directly onto a small C8 column, washed and then back-flushed using a column switching valve and a second pump onto an alpha1-acid glycoprotein analytical column, and enantioselective separation achieved using a mobile phase gradient of methanol and ammonium formate. Analytes were validated over a range of 0.1-25 ng/ml R- and S-EDDP and 0.1-100ng/ml R- and S-methadone, respectively. Unweighted standard curves were linear over this concentration range (regression coefficients > 0.999). Quality control samples were evaluated at 1, 5, 12.5 ng/ml R- and S-EDDP and 1, 10, 50 ng/ml R- and S-methadone. Intra- and inter-day accuracy was >95%, and intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were less than 10% for all analytes and concentrations. This assay represents the only method currently available which combines on-line extraction and achieves chiral separation of both methadone and EDDP from plasma, and offers improvements in sensitivity over existing methods.