High‐Throughput Chiral LC–MS/MS Method Using Overlapping Injection Mode for the Determination of Pantoprazole Enantiomers in Human Plasma with Application to Pharmacokinetic Study

A sensitive and high‐throughput chiral liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of R‐pantoprazole and S‐pantoprazole in human plasma. Sample extraction was carried out by using ethyl acetate liquid–liquid extraction in 96‐well plate format. The separation of pantoprazole enantiomers was performed on a CHIRALCEL OJ‐RH column and an overlapping injection mode was used to achieve a run time of 5.0 min/sample. The mobile phase consisted of 1) 10 mM ammonium acetate in methanol: acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) and 2) 20 mM ammonium acetate in water. Isocratic elution was used with flow rate at 500 μL/min. The enantiomers were quantified on a triple‐quadrupole mass spectrometer under multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with m/z 382.1/230.0 for pantoprazole and m/z 388.4/230.1 for pantoprazole‐d7. Linearity from 20.0 to 5000 ng/mL was established for each enantiomer (r² > 0.99). Extraction recovery ranged from 91.7% to 96.4% for R‐pantoprazole and from 92.5% to 96.5% for S‐pantoprazole and the IS‐normalized matrix factor was 0.98 to 1.07 for R‐pantoprazole and S‐pantoprazole, respectively. The method was demonstrated with acceptable accuracy, precision, selectivity, and stability and the method was applied to support a pharmacokinetic study of a phase I clinical trial of racemic pantoprazole in healthy Chinese subjects. Chirality 28:569–575, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantiospecific Analysis of 8‐Prenylnaringenin in Biological Fluids by Liquid‐Chromatography‐Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Application to Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Investigations

8‐Prenylnaringenin (8PN) is a naturally occurring bioactive chiral prenylflavonoid found most commonly in the female flowers of hops (Humulus lupulus L.). A stereospecific method of analysis for 8PN in biological fluids is necessary to study the pharmacokinetic disposition of each enantiomer. A novel and simple liquid chromatographic‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐MS) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of R‐ and S‐8PN in rat serum and urine. Carbamazepine was used as the internal standard (IS). Enantiomeric resolution of 8PN was achieved on a Chiralpak^® AD‐RH column with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of 2‐propanol and 10 mM ammonium formate (pH 8.5) (40:60, v/v) and a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Detection was achieved using negative selective ion monitoring (SIM) of 8PN at m/z 339.15 for both enantiomers and positive SIM m/z at 237.15 for the IS. The calibration curves for urine were linear over a range of 0.01–75 µg/mL and 0.05–75 µg/mL for serum with a limit of quantification of 0.05 µg/mL in serum and 0.01 µg/mL in urine. The method was successfully validated showing that it was sensitive, reproducible, and accurate for enantiospecific quantification of 8PN in biological matrices. The assay was successfully applied to a preliminary study of 8PN enantiomers in rat. Chirality 26:419–426, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Enantioselective LC/MS method for the determination of an antimalarial agent Fenozan B07 in dog plasma

A chiral liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) bioanalytical procedure has been developed for the analysis of the antimalaric agent Fenozan B07 in dog plasma. Normal-phase chromatography involving a phenylcarbamate derivative of cellulose coated on silica gel as the chiral stationary phase was used to resolve (-)-(S,S)-B07 from (+)-(R,R)-B07. The enantiomers were detected by a mass spectrometer equipped with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface operated in the negative ion mode. A mass spectrum, characterized by a base peak of m/z 285, was obtained for each enantiomer. The m/z 285 ion was very specific for the analysis of both enantiomers in the plasma. The selected ion monitoring analysis of the plasma samples was therefore performed at m/z 285 for quantitative purposes. The enantiomers were extracted from the plasma in a basic medium and purified by solid-phase extraction using a hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced sorbent. A lower limit of quantification of 2 ng/mL in plasma was achieved for both enantiomers. The quantitative procedure reported in this study was highly specific and sensitive, and was validated according to the FDA guidance on bioanalytical method validation.     

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.     

Chiral analysis of ammuxetine enantiomers in dog plasma using online SPE/liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection after precolumn chiral derivatization

Ammuxetine (AMT), a novel chiral antidepressant candidate compound, exhibits better antidepression effects than duloxetine in different animal models. In this article, a chiral derivatization method, combined with online solid phase extraction (online SPE) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), was developed for the chiral separation of AMT enantiomers after administration of racemic AMT to dogs. The derivatization reaction employed 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐b‐glucopyr‐anosyl isothiocyanate (GITC) as a precolumn chiral derivatization reagent. A SPE column Retain PEP Javelin (10 × 2.1 mm) was used to remove proteins and other impurities in plasma samples. The enantiomeric derivatives were separated on a ZORBAX SB‐C₁₈ column (50 × 2.1 mm × 3.5 μm) with an isocratic elution procedure. The selected multiple reaction monitoring mode of the positive ion was performed and the parent to the product transitions m/z 681.0/543.1 and m/z 687.4/543.1 were used to measure the derivatives of AMT and duloxetine (internal standard) with electrospray ionization. The method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, matrix effect, and stability. The method was applied to a pharmacokinetics study of AMT racemate in dogs. The results suggested that the pharmacokinetic of AMT enantiomers might be stereoselective in dogs.     

Stability evaluation and sensitive determination of antiviral drug,valacyclovir and its metabolite acyclovir in human plasma by a rapid liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method

A simple, sensitive and high throughput liquid chromatography/positive-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of valacyclovir and acyclovir in human plasma using fluconazole as internal standard (IS). The method involved solid phase extraction of the analytes and IS from 0.5 mL human plasma with no reconstitution and drying steps (direct injection of eluate). The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Gemini C18 analytical column using isocratic mobile phase, consisting of 0.1% formic acid and methanol (30:70 v/v), at a flow-rate of 0.8 mL/min. The precursor → product ion transition for valacyclovir (m/z 325.2 → 152.2), acyclovir (m/z 226.2 → 152.2) and IS (m/z 307.1 → 220.3) were monitored on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, operating in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The method was validated over the concentration range 5.0–1075 ng/mL and 47.6–10225 ng/mL for valacyclovir and acyclovir respectively. The mean recovery of valacyclovir (92.2%), acyclovir (84.2%) and IS (103.7%) from spiked plasma samples was consistent and reproducible. The bench top stability of valacyclovir and acyclovir was extensively evaluated in buffered and unbuffered plasma. It was successfully applied to a bioequivalence study in 41 healthy human subjects after oral administration of 1000 mg valacyclovir tablet formulation under fasting condition.     

Determination of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide in human plasma by ion-pair extraction and LC-MS/MS

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was established for the determination of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (AICA) in human plasma. The method included a solvent extraction of AICA as an ion pair with 1-pentanesulfonate ion and a separation on a Hypersil ODS2 column with the mobile phase of methanol-water (68:32, v/v). Determination was performed using an electrospray ionization source in positive ion mode (ESI(+)). Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was utilized for the detection monitoring m/z at 127-->110 for AICA, and 172-->128 for IS. The calibration curve was linear within a range from 20 to 2000 ng/mL and the limit of quantity for AICA in plasma was 20 ng/mL. RSD of intra-assay and inter-assay were no more than 5.90% and 5.65%.     

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.     

HPLC-MS/MS法测定人血浆中草乌甲素的浓度及生物等效性研究(英文)

本文建立了一种快速、高灵敏的HPLC-MS/MS法用于检测人血浆中的草乌甲素浓度。血浆样品采用沃特斯HLB小柱进行固相萃取,汉邦C18色谱柱(150 mm×4.6 mm,5μm)进行分离,流动相为甲醇∶水(85∶15,v/v),水相含10 mmol/L的醋酸铵和0.1%的甲酸。采用ESI源和多反应监测(MRM)的方式进行检测,草乌甲素及内标的反应离子对分别为644.4/584.4和237.2/194.2,草乌甲素血药浓度在0.010～1.0 ng/mL范围内线性关系良好,最低定量限为0.010 ng/mL可以满足口服0.4 mg草乌甲素后血药浓度的检测,日内日间及质控样品精密度及准确度均在允许范围内。本检测方法被成功的应用在中国健康志愿者生物等效性研究中,20名志愿者口服0.4 mg草乌甲素试验制剂和参比制剂后主要药代动力学参数分别如下:Cmax(0.325±0.110),(0.323±0.115)ng/mL;AUC0-16(1.627±0.489),(1.732±0.556)ng.h/mL;AUC0-∞(1.730±0.498),(1.831±0.562)ng.h/mL;t1/2(4.26±0.95),(3.80±0.90)h;Tmax(1.34±0.54),(1.83±0.99)h。     

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.     

Paclitaxel quantification in mouse plasma and tissues containing liposome-entrapped paclitaxel by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to a pharmacokinetics study

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay to quantify total paclitaxel in mouse plasma and tissue homogenates containing paclitaxel, Taxol, or liposome-entrapped paclitaxel-easy to use (LEP-ETU) was developed and validated. Docetaxel was used as the internal standard (IS). Liquid-liquid extraction with tert-butyl methyl ether was used for plasma sample preparation, and a one-step protein precipitation with acetonitrile containing 0.1% acetic acid was developed for tissue homogenates. Paclitaxel and IS are separated on a 50 x 2.1-mm C18 column and quantified using a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in positive ion electrospray multiple reaction monitoring mode, with a total run time of 3.5 min. The peak area of the m/z 854.4--> 286.2 transition of paclitaxel is measured versus that of the m/z 808.5--> 527.5 transition of IS to generate the standard curve. In plasma, the linear range is 0.2-500 ng/mL and could be extended by dilution to 100,000 ng/mL with acceptable precision and accuracy (< or = 15%). The lower limit of quantification is 0.5 ng/mL in tissue homogenates (10 ng/g tissue), and the standard curve is linear up to 1000 ng/mL, with precision and accuracy < or = 15%. This assay was used to support a pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study of LEP-ETU in mice.     

A highly sensitive and robust UPLC–MS with electrospray ionization method for quantitation of taxifolin in rat plasma

A sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the quantification of taxifolin in rat plasma. Following liquid/liquid extraction by ethyl acetate, the analytes were separated on a Sunfire? (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 3.5 μm) column and analyzed in the selected ion recording with a negative electrospray ionization mode. The method was linear over the concentration range of 6–6750 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day precisions were all within 8% and accuracy ranged from 92.9% to 105.1%. The lower limit of quantification was 6 ng/mL. The present method was successfully applied to the estimation of the pharmacokinetic parameters of taxifolin following intravenous and oral administration to rats. The absolute bioavailability of taxifolin was 0.17% in rat.     

Determination of levocetirizine in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: application to a bioequivalence study

We describe a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) for levocetirizine quantification (I) in human plasma. Sample preparation was made using a fexofenadine (II) addition as internal standard (IS), liquid-liquid extraction using cold dichloromethane, and dissolving the final extract in acetonitrile. I and II (IS) were injected in a C18 column and the mobile phase composed of acetonitrile:water:formic acid (80.00:19.90:0.10, v/v/v) and monitored using positive electrospray source with tandem mass spectrometry analyses. The selected reaction monitoring (SRM) was set using precursor ion and product ion combinations of m/z 389>201 for I and m/z 502>467 for II. The limit of quantification and the dynamic range achieved were 0.5ng/mL and 0.5-500.0ng/mL. Validation results on linearity, specificity, accuracy, precision and stability, as well as its application to the analysis of plasma samples taken up to 48h after oral administration of 5mg of levocetirizine dichloridrate in healthy volunteers demonstrate its applicability to bioavailability studies.     

Validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for quantitative determination of dauricine in human plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study

A highly sensitive and selective LC–MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of dauricine in human plasma, using protopine as internal standard (IS). The analyte and IS were extracted by liquid–liquid extraction and analyzed by LC–MS/MS. Chromatographic separation was performed on Agilent TC-C₁₈ column with a mobile phase of methanol–water–glacial acetic acid (60:40:0.8, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrum by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using the electrospray ionization technique in positive mode. The method was linear over the concentration range of 1–200 ng/mL. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1 ng/mL in human plasma with acceptable precision and accuracy. The intra- and inter-day precision was less than 5.9% determined from quality control (QC) samples at concentrations of 2.0, 20.0 and 160 ng/mL, and the accuracy was within ±9.9%. This method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetics of dauricine after oral doses of 100, 300 and 600 mg phenolic alkaloids of menispermum dauricum tablet (PAMDT) to 12 Chinese healthy volunteers.     

Chromatographic profiles of tryptophan and kynurenine enantiomers derivatized with (S)‐4‐(3‐isothiocyanatopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole using LC–MS/MS on a triazole‐bonded column

d ‐ and l ‐Tryptophan (Trp) and d ‐ and l ‐kynurenine (KYN) were derivatized with a chiral reagent, (S )‐4‐(3‐isothiocyanatopyrrolidin‐1‐yl)‐7‐(N,N‐dimethylaminosulfonyl)‐2,1,3‐benzoxadiazole (DBD‐PyNCS), and were separated enantiomerically by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with a triazole‐bonded column (Cosmosil HILIC) using tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection. Effects of column temperature, salt (HCO₂NH₄) concentration, and pH of the mobile phase in the enantiomeric separation, followed by MS detection of (S )‐DBD‐PyNCS‐d ,l ‐Trp and ‐d ,l ‐KYN, were investigated. The mobile phase consisting of CH₃CN/10 mM ammonium formate in H₂O (pH 5.0) (90/10) with a column temperature of 50–60 °C gave satisfactory resolution (R s) and mass‐spectrometric detection. The enantiomeric separation of d ,l ‐Trp and d ,l ‐KYN produced R s values of 2.22 and 2.13, and separation factors (α) of 1.08 and 1.08, for the Trp and KYN enantiomers, respectively. The proposed LC–MS/MS method provided excellent detection sensitivity of both enantiomers of Trp and KYN (5.1–19 nM).     

An LC-MS/MS method for determination of forsythiaside in rat plasma and application to a pharmacokinetic study

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of forsythiaside in rat plasma using epicatechin as internal standard. The analytes were extracted by solid-phase extraction and chromatographied on a C₁₈ column eluted with a gradient mobile phase of acetonitrile and water both containing 0.2% formic acid. The detection was performed by negative ion electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode, monitoring the transitions m/z 623 → 161 and m/z 289 → 109 for forsythiaside and epicatechin, respectively. The assay was linear over the concentration ranges of 2.0–50.0 and 50.0–5000.0 ng/mL with limits of detection and quantification of 0.2 and 1.0 ng/mL, respectively. The precision was <10.8% and the accuracy was >91.9%, and extraction recovery ranged from 81.3% to 85.0%. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of forsythiaside in rats after intravenous (20 mg/kg) and oral (100 mg/kg) administration, and the result showed that the compound was poorly absorbed with an absolute bioavailability being approximately 0.5%.     

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.     

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous determination of D-amphetamine and diphenhydramine in beagle dog plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A new drug, quick-acting anti-motion capsule (QAAMC) composed of d-amphetamine sulfate, dimenhydrinate and ginger extraction has been studied for anti-motion-sickness use. We have developed a sensitive, specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the quantitative determination of d-amphetamine and diphenhydramine, the main effective components of the QAAMC, using pseudoephedrine as the internal standard. The analytes and internal standard were isolated from 200 microL plasma samples by a simple liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Reverse-phase HPLC separation was accomplished on a Zorbax SB-C18 column (100 mm x 3.0 mm, 3.5 microm) with a mobile phase composed of methanol-water-formic acid (65:35:0.5, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The method had a chromatographic total run time of 5 min. A Varian 1200 L electrospray tandem mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray ionization source was operated in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with the precursor-to-product ion transitions m/z 136.0-->91.0 (D-amphetamine), 256.0-->167.0 (diphenhydramine) and 166.1-->148.0 (IS) used for quantitation. The method was sensitive with a lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of 0.5 ng/mL for d-amphetamine and 1 ng/mL for diphenhydramine, with good linearity in the range 0.5-200 ng/mL for D-amphetamine and 1-500 ng/mL for diphenhydramine (r(2)> or =0.9990). All the validation data, such as accuracy, precision, and inter-day repeatability, were within the required limits. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of the QAAMC in beagle dogs.     

Quantification of isradipine in human plasma using LC–MS/MS for pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence study

A highly sensitive and rapid method for the analysis of isradipine in human plasma using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was developed. The procedure involves a simple liquid–liquid extraction of isradipine and amlodipine (IS, internal standard) with methyl-t-butyl ether after alkaline treatment and separation by RP-HPLC. Detection was performed by positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, monitoring the transitions m/z 372.1 → m/z 312.2 and m/z 408.8 → m/z 237.9, for quantification of isradipine and IS, respectively. The standard calibration curves showed good linearity within the range of 10 to 5000 pg/mL (r² ≥ 0.9998). The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 10 pg/mL. The retention times of isradipine (0.81 min) and IS (0.65 min) suggested the potential for high throughput of the proposed method. In addition, no significant metabolic compounds were found to interfere with the analysis. This method offered good precision and accuracy and was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies of 5 mg of sustained-release isradipine in 24 healthy Korean volunteers.     

Improved liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of eptifibatide in human plasma

A rapid, selective and highly sensitive high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method (LC–MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination and pharmacokinetic investigation of eptifibatide in human plasma. Eptifibatide and the internal standard (IS), EPM-05, were extracted from plasma samples using solid phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C₁₈ column at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Detection of eptifibatide and the IS was achieved by tandem mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface in positive ion mode. Traditional multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using the transition of m/z 832.6 → m/z 646.4 and m/z 931.6 → m/z 159.4 was performed to quantify eptifibatide and the IS, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 1–1000 ng/mL with the lower limit of quantitation validated at 1 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 13.3%, while the accuracy was within ±7.6% of nominal values. The validated LC–MS/MS method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters of eptifibatide after intravenous (i.v.) administration of a 45 μg/kg bolus of eptifibatide to 8 healthy volunteers.