Sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of aniracetam in human plasma

A rapid, sensitive and selective LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the quantification of aniracetam in human plasma using estazolam as internal standard (IS). Following liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes were separated using a mobile phase of methanol-water (60:40, v/v) on a reverse phase C18 column and analyzed by a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode using the respective [M+H]+ ions, m/z 220-->135 for aniracetam and m/z 295-->205 for the IS. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.2-100 ng/mL for aniracetam in human plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.2 ng/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 15%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. The validated LC-MS/MS method has been successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of aniracetam in healthy male Chinese volunteers.     

Sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric assay for the quantification of chloroquine in dog plasma

A simple, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for quantification of chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, in plasma using its structural analogue, piperazine bis chloroquinoline as internal standard (IS). The method is based on simple protein precipitation with methanol followed by a rapid isocratic elution with 10 mM ammonium acetate buffer/methanol (25/75, v/v, pH 4.6) on Chromolith SpeedROD RP-18e reversed phase chromatographic column and subsequent analysis by mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM). The precursor to product ion transitions of m/z 320.3-->247.2 and m/z 409.1-->205.2 were used to measure the analyte and the IS, respectively. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 2.0-489.1 ng/mL for chloroquine in dog plasma. The limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were 0.4 and 2.0 ng/mL, respectively in 0.05 mL plasma. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range of 2.0-489.1 ng/mL. A run time of 2.0 min for a sample made it possible to achieve a throughput of more than 400 plasma samples analyzed per day. The validated method was successfully used to analyze samples of dog plasma during non-clinical study of chloroquine.     

Simultaneous quantitation of dexamethasone palmitate and dexamethasone in human plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method for simultaneous quantitation of dexamethasone palmitate and dexamethasone in human plasma was developed. After sample preparation by protein precipitation and liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes and internal standard (IS) were separated on a Venusil XBP-C8 column using gradient elution. Multiple reaction monitoring of dexamethasone palmitate, dexamethasone and IS used the precursor to product ion transitions at m/z 631.8-->373.1, m/z 393.2-->147.1 and m/z 264.2-->58.1, respectively. The method was linear over the ranges 1.5-1000ng/mL for dexamethasone palmitate and 2.5-250ng/mL for dexamethasone with intra- and inter-day precisions of <10% and accuracies of 100+/-7%. The assay was applied to a clinical pharmacokinetic study involving the injection of dexamethasone palmitate to healthy volunteers.     

Development and validation of an LC-MS method with electrospray ionization for quantitation of digoxin in human plasma and urine: application to a pharmacokinetic study

A highly sensitive and specific LC-MS method was developed and validated for the quantification of digoxin in human plasma and urine using d5-dihydrodigoxin as internal standard (IS). The assay procedure involved extraction of digoxin and IS from human plasma with chloroform-isopropanol (95:5, v/v). Chromatogrphic separation was achieved on a Spherisorb ODS2 column using a gradient mobile phase with 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate in water with 1% acetic acid and acetonitrile. The mass spectrometer was operated in the selected ion monitoring mode using the respective [M+K](+) ions, m/z 819.4 for digoxin and m/z 826.4 for IS. The method was proved to be accurate and precise at linearity range of 0.12-19.60 ng/mL in plasma with a correlation coefficient (r(2)) of >or=0.9968 and 1.2-196.0 ng/mL in urine. The limit of quantification achieved with this method was 0.12 ng/mL in plasma and 1.2 ng/mL in urine. The intra- and inter-assay precision and accuracy values were found to be within the assay variability limits as per the FDA guidelines. The developed assay method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in human volunteers following intravenous administration of digoxin.     

Quantification of roxatidine in human plasma by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry: application to a bioequivalence study

A sensitive and specific method using a one-step liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with ethyl acetate followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with positive ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) detection was developed and validated for the determination of roxatidine in human plasma using famotidine as an internal standard (IS). Data acquisition was carried out in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, by monitoring the transitions m/z 307.3-->107.1 for roxatidine and m/z 338.4-->189.1 for famotidine. Chromatographic separation was performed on a reverse phase Hydrosphere C(18) column at 0.2 mL min(-1) using a mixture of methanol-ammonium formate buffer as mobile phase (20:80, v/v; adjusted to pH 3.9 with formic acid). The achieved lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1.0 ng mL(-1) and the standard calibration curve for roxatidine was linear (r(2)=0.998) over the studied range (1-1000 ng mL(-1)) with acceptable accuracy and precision. Roxatidine was found to be stable in human plasma samples under short-, long-term storage and processing conditions. The developed method was validated and successfully applied to the bioequivalence study of roxatidine administrated as a single oral dose (75 mg as roxatidine acetate hydrochloride) to healthy female Korean volunteers.     

Determination of methocarbamol concentration in human plasma by high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and reproducible high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric method was developed for methocarbamol analysis in human plasma. Methocarbamol and the internal standard (IS) were extracted by a protein precipitation method. Under isocratic separation condition the chromatographic run time was 3.0 min. The calibration curve was linear over a range of 150–12,000 ng/mL with good intraday assay and interday assay precision (CV% < 10.9%). The method was proven to be sensitive and selective for the analysis of methocarbamol in human plasma for bioequivalence study.     

Quantitation of tadalafil in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization

A simple, rapid, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for quantitation of tadalafil (I) in human plasma, a new selective, reversible phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor. The analyte and internal standard (sildenafil, II) were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether/dichloromethane (70/30, v/v) using a Glas-Col Multi-Pulse Vortexer. The chromatographic separation was performed on reverse phase Xterra MS C18 column with a mobile phase of 10mM ammonium formate/acetonitrile (10/90, v/v, pH adjusted to 3.0 with formic acid). The protonate of analyte was quantitated in positive ionization by multiple reaction monitoring with a mass spectrometer. The mass transitions m/z 390.4 --> 268.0 and m/z 475.5 --> 58.3 were used to measure I and II, respectively. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 10-1000 ng/mL for tadalafil in human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation was 10 ng/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 15%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve ranges. Run time of 1.2 min for each sample made it possible to analyze a throughput of more than 400 human plasma samples per day. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic, bioavailability or bioequivalence studies.     

Simultaneous quantification of tiloronoxim and tilorone in human urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, sensitive and specific HPLC method with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) detection has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of tiloronoxim and its major active metabolite, tilorone, in human urine. The analytes, together with metoprolol, which was employed as an internal standard (IS), were extracted with a mixture solvent of chloroform/ethyl ether (1/2, v/v). The chromatographic separation was performed on a narrow-bore reversed phase HPLC column with a gradient mobile phase of methanol/water containing 15 mM ammonium bicarbonate (pH 10.5). The API 3,000 mass spectrometer was equipped with a TurboIonSpray interface and was operated on positive-ion, multiple reaction-monitoring (MRM) mode. The mass transitions monitored were m/z 426.3-->100.0, m/z 411.3-->100.0 and m/z 268.3-->116.1 for tiloronoxim, tilorone and the IS, respectively. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 1-100 ng/ml for both tiloronoxim and tilorone based on the analysis of 0.2 ml aliquots of urine. The lower limit of quantification was 1 ng/ml for both compounds. Acceptable precision and accuracies were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve ranges. Run time of 8 min for each injection made it possible to analyze a high throughput of urine samples. The assay has been successfully used to analyze human urine samples from healthy volunteers.     

Sensitive quantification of rifaximin in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) for the quantitative determination of rifaximin in human plasma was developed and validated. In the developed procedure, metoprolol was added to human plasma as an internal standard (IS) and acetonitrile was used to precipitate the plasma proteins before LC-MS/MS analysis. Chromatographic separation was obtained on a RESTEK Pinnacle C18 column (50 mm x 2.1mm, 5 microm) with a mobile phase consisted of ammonium acetate solution (15 mM, pH 4.32) as buffer A and methanol as mobile phase B. Quantification was performed in positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of the transitions m/z 786.1-->754.1 for rifaximin and m/z 268.3-->116.1 for the IS. The assay has been validated over the concentration range of 0.5-10 ng/ml (r=0.9992) based on the analysis of 0.2 ml of plasma. The assay accuracy was between 98.2% and 109%. The within-day and between-day precision was better than 3.9% and 8.9% at three concentration levels. The freeze-thaw stability was also investigated and it was found that both rifaximin and the IS were quite stable. This method provides a rapid, sensitive, specific and robust tool for the quantitative determination of rifaximin in human plasma, which is especially useful for the pharmacokinetic study of rifaximin.     

Rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for determination of felbamate in mouse plasma and tissues and human plasma

Felbamate (2-phenyl-1,3-propanediol dicarbamate) is a second generation antiepileptic drug used to treat seizures refractory to other antiepileptic drugs. With approximately 3500 new patients exposed annually, several important pharmacologic interaction questions remain unanswered necessitating the need for rapid and accurate methods of felbamate analysis in biological matrices. To this end, a rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the measurement of felbamate in mouse plasma and tissues and human plasma. Plasma (100 μL) and tissues homogenates (100 μL of 100 mg/mL) were spiked with internal standard (carisoprodol) prior to protein precipitation with acetonitrile. Samples were chromatographed on a XBridge Phenyl, 2.5 μm, 4.6 mm×50 mm column with quantitation by internal standard reference monitoring of the ion transitions m/z 239→117 for felbamate and m/z 261→176 for carisoprodol. Calibration curves were linear from 2.5 to 500 ng/mL in mouse or human plasma and 25-5000 pg/mg in tissue homogenates. Recoveries were greater than 97% for plasma and homogenates with accuracies >92% in any of the mouse matrices and >88% in human plasma. Comparable accuracies and precision were found with and without the use of the internal standard in preparation of the calibration curves and suggest that the internal standard may not be required.     

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of N-acetylglucosamine concentration in human plasma

A simple, reliable and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for quantification of N-acetylglucosamine in human plasma. Plasma samples were pretreated with acetonitrile for protein precipitation. The chromatographic separation was performed on Hypersil Silica column (150mmx2mm, 5microm). The deprotonated analyte ion was detected in negative ionization mode by multiple reaction monitoring mode. The mass transition pairs of m/z 220.3-->118.9 and m/z 226.4-->123.2 were used to detect N-acetylglucosamine and internal standard 13C6-N-acetylglucosamine, respectively. The assay exhibited a linear range from 20 to 1280ng/ml for N-acetylglucosamine in human plasma. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations of the calibration standard and quality control. The validated method was successfully applied to analyze human plasma samples in a pharmacokinetic study.     

Quantitative analysis of Variolin analog (PM01218) in mouse and rat plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

PM01218 is a novel marine-derived alkaloid and has shown potent growth inhibitory activity against several human cancer cell lines. A rapid and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated to quantify PM01218 in mouse and rat plasma. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 0.05 ng/mL. The calibration curve was linear from 0.05 to 100 ng/mL (R(2)>0.999). The assay was specifically based on the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions at m/z 278.4-->184.2, no endogenous material interfaced with the analysis of PM01218 and its internal standard from blank mouse and rat plasma. The mean intra- and inter-day assay accuracy remained below 15 and 8%, respectively, for all calibration standards and QC samples. The intra- and inter-day assay precision was less than 12.8 and 8.5% for all QC levels, respectively. The utility of the assay was demonstrated by pharmacokinetics studies of i.v. (bolus) PM01218 on SD rats.     

Determination of an investigational HIV integrase inhibitor in human plasma using high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric detection

An HPLC-MS/MS assay for the determination of an HIV integrase inhibitor, 5-(1,1-dioxido-1,2-thiazinan-2-yl)-N-(4-fluorobenzyl)-8-hydroxy-1,6-naphthyridine-7-carboxamide (I) in human plasma has been developed and validated. Compound I and a stable isotope labeled internal standard (II) were isolated from 0.5 mL plasma samples by solid phase extraction using an Ansys SPEC C-8 96-well plate. Extracts were separated on a Hypersil BDS C-18 HPLC column (3.0 mmx50 mm, 3 microm) with a mobile phase consisting of 25 mM ammonium formate pH 3.0:acetonitrile (60:40) vol%/vol% pumped at 0.5 mL/min. A Sciex API 365 mass spectrometer equipped with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source was operated in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with the precursor-to-product ion transitions m/z 431-->109 (I) and m/z 437-->115 (II) used for quantitation. The assay was validated over the concentration range of 10-5000 ng/mL and was found to have acceptable accuracy, precision, linearity, and selectivity. The mean extraction recovery from spiked plasma samples was 69%. The intra-day accuracy of the assay was within 4% of nominal and intra-day precision was better than 4% C.V. Following a 200 mg dose of the compound administered to human subjects, concentrations of I ranged from 21.1 to 1500 ng/mL in plasma samples collected up to 12 h after dosing. Inter-day accuracy and precision results for quality control samples run over a 3-month period alongside clinical samples showed mean accuracies of within 6% of nominal and precision better than 3.5% C.V.     

Rapid and simultaneous determination of tacrolimus (FK506) and diltiazem in human whole blood by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: application to a clinical drug-drug interaction study

Tacrolimus (FK506) is a potent immunosuppressant widely used for organ transplantation patients while diltiazem (DTZ), a calcium-channel inhibitor, is often used in renal transplantation patients to prevent post-transplant hypertension. However, DTZ has a significant pharmacokinetic interaction with FK506. In this study, a rapid and sensitive ammonium-adduct based liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of FK506 and DTZ in human whole blood using ascomycin as the internal standard (IS). After extraction of the whole blood samples by ethyl acetate, FK506, DTZ and the IS were subjected to LC/MS/MS analysis using electro-spray positive-ion mode ionization (ESI(+)). Chromatographic separation was performed on a Hypersil BDS C18 column (50 mm x 2.1 mm, i.d., 3 microm). The MS/MS detection was conducted by monitoring the fragmentation of 821.7-->768.9 (m/z) for FK506, 415.5-->310.3 (m/z) for DTZ and 809.8-->757.0 (m/z) for IS. The method had a chromatographic running time of approximately 2 min and linear calibration curves over the concentrations of 0.5-200 ng/mL for FK506 and 2-250 ng/mL for DTZ. The recoveries of liquid-liquid extraction method were 58.3-62.6% for FK506 and 50.4-58.8% for DTZ. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of the analytical method was 0.5 ng/mL for FK506 and 2 ng/mL for DTZ. The intra- and inter-day precision was less than 15% for all quality control samples at concentrations of 2, 10, and 50 ng/mL for FK506 and 5, 25, and 100 ng/mL for DTZ. The validated LC/MS/MS method has been successfully used to analyze the concentrations of FK506 and DTZ in whole blood samples from pharmacokinetic studies in renal transplanted patients.     

Selective and rapid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay of dutasteride in human plasma

A simple, rapid, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for quantification of dutasteride (I), a potent and the first specific dual inhibitor of 5alpha-reductase, in human plasma. The analyte and internal standard (finasteride (II)) were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction with diethyl ether/dichloromethane (70/30, v/v) using a Glas-Col Multi-Pulse Vortexer. The chromatographic separation was performed on a reverse phase Xterra MS C18 column with a mobile phase of 10 mM ammonium formate/acetonitrile (15/85, v/v, pH adjusted to 3.0 with formic acid). The protonated analyte was quantitated in positive ionization by multiple reaction monitoring with a mass spectrometer. The mass transitions m/z 529.5 --> 461.5 and m/z 373.3 --> 317.4 were used to measure I and II, respectively. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.1-25.0 ng/mL for dutasteride in human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation was 100 pg/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 15%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve ranges. A run time of 1.2 min for each sample made it possible to analyze a throughput of more than 400 human plasma samples/day. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic, bioavailability or bioequivalence studies.     

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%.     

Development and validation of a LC-ESI-MS/MS method for the determination of swertiamarin in rat plasma and its application in pharmacokinetics

A new LC-ESI-MS/MS assay method has been developed and validated for the quantification of swertiamarin, a representative bioactive substance of Swertia plants, in rat plasma using gentiopicroside, an analog of swertiamarin on chemical structure and chromatographic action, as the internal standard (IS). The swertiamarin and IS were extracted from rat plasma using solid-phase extraction (SPE) as the sample clean-up procedure, and they were chromatographed on a narrow internal diameter column (Agilent ZORBAX ECLIPSE XDB-C(18) 100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) with the mobile phase consisting of methanol and water containing 0.1% acetic acid (25:75, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. The detection was performed on an Agilent G6410B tandem mass spectrometer by negative ion electrospray ionisation in multiple-reaction monitoring mode while monitoring the transitions of m/z 433 [M+CH(3)COO](-)→179 and m/z 415 [M+CH(3)COO](-)→179 for swertiamarin and IS, respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 5 ng/mL within a linear range of 5-1000 ng/mL (n=7, r(2)≥0.994), and the limit of detection (LOD) was demonstrated as 1.25 ng/mL (S/N≥3). The method also afforded satisfactory results in terms of sensitivity, specificity, precision (intra- and inter-day), accuracy, recovery, freeze/thaw, long-time stability and dilution integrity. This method was successfully applied to determination of the pharmacokinetic properties of swertiamarin in rats after oral administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained (mean): maximum plasma concentration, 1920.1 ng/mL; time to reach maximum plasma concentration, 0.945 h; elimination half-time, 1.10h; apparent total clearance, 5.638 L/h/kg; and apparent volume of distribution, 9.637 L/kg.     

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.     

Determination of salirasib (S-trans,trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid) in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) assay was developed for the quantitative determination of salirasib (S-trans,trans-farnesylthiosalicylic acid, FTS) in human plasma. Sample pretreatment involved liquid-liquid extraction with methyl t-butyl ether of 0.5-mL aliquots of lithium heparin plasma spiked with the internal standard, S-trans,trans-5-fluoro-farnesylthiosalicylic acid (5-F-FTS). Separation was achieved on Waters X-Terra C(18) (50 mm x 2.1 mm i.d., 3.5 microm) at room temperature using isocratic elution with acetonitrile/10 mM ammonium acetate buffer mobile phase (80:20, v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid at a flow rate of 0.20 mL/min. Detection was performed using electrospray MS/MS by monitoring the ion transitions from m/z 357.2-->153.0 (salirasib) and m/z 375.1-->138.8 (5-F-FTS). Calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 1-1000 ng/mL. A 5000 ng/mL sample that was diluted 1:10 (v/v) with plasma was accurately quantitated. The values for both within day and between day precision and accuracy were well within the generally accepted criteria for analytical method (<8.0%). This assay was subsequently used for the determination of salirasib concentrations in plasma of cancer patients after oral administration of salirasib at a dose of 400 mg.     

Determination of butenafine hydrochloride in human plasma by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry following its topical administration in human subjects

An HPLC/MS/MS method for determination of butenafine hydrochloride in human plasma with testosterone propionate as the internal standard (IS) was developed and validated. Plasma samples were extracted with an n-hexane/diethyl ether (1:2, v/v) mixture and separated using a C(18) column by a gradient elution with the mobile phase containing acetonitrile and 5mM ammonium acetate buffer. Quantification was performed using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with transition of m/z 318.4→141.0 for butenafine hydrochloride and m/z 345.5→97.0 for testosterone propionate (IS). This method was validated in terms of specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy, and stability. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of this method was 0.0182 ng/ml and the calibration curve was linear over the 0.0182-1.82 ng/ml. The intra- and inter-run coefficient of variance was less than 11.53% and 10.07%, respectively. The samples were stable under all the tested conditions. The method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of butenafine hydrochloride in healthy Chinese volunteers following its topical administration.