LC-MS/MS技术在蛋白质药物定量分析中的应用

近年来，蛋白质药物已经成为全球制药业的研发热点。建立灵敏、准确、高通量的蛋白质药物定量分析方法，是进行蛋白质药物研究的关键前提，也是蛋白质药物研究的难点。随着液相色谱串联质谱技术（LC-MS/MS）的发展，其在蛋白质药物定量分析中起着越来越重要的作用。本文首先综述了蛋白质药物的分类，然后比较了LC-MS/MS技术与传统配体结合测定方法（LBA）在蛋白质药物分析中的优缺点，以及分析了LC-MS/MS技术在蛋白质药物定量分析中的常见问题、解决方法、应用方向等。最后预测，短时间内LC-MS/MS 不会完全取代传统的LBA方法，随着LC-MS/MS技术和生物化学技术的充分结合，蛋白质药物分析将会得到飞速的发展。     

Applications of mass spectrometry in drug metabolism: 50 years of progress

Abstract

Mass spectrometry plays a pivotal role in drug metabolism studies, which are an integral part of drug discovery and development nowadays. Metabolite identification has become critical to understanding the metabolic fate of drug candidates and to aid lead optimization with improved metabolic stability, toxicology and efficacy profiles. Ever since the introduction of atmospheric ionization techniques in the early 1990s, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has secured a central role as the predominant analytical platform for metabolite identification as LC and MS technologies continually advanced. In this review, we discuss the evolution of both MS technology and its applications over the past 50 years to meet the increasing demand of drug metabolism studies. These advances include ionization sources, mass analyzers, a wide range of MS acquisition strategies and data mining tools that have substantially accelerated the metabolite identification process and changed the overall drug metabolism landscape. Exemplary applications for characterization and identification of both small-molecule xenobiotics and biological macromolecules are described. In addition, this review discusses novel MS technologies and applications, including xenobiotic metabolomics that hold additional promise for advancing drug metabolism research, and offers thoughts on remaining challenges in studying the metabolism and disposition of drugs and other xenobiotics.     

液质联用技术在环烯醚萜苷类化合物研究中的应用

液质联用技术将色谱的高分离性能和质谱强大的结构鉴别功能相结合,是较完善的现代分析技术,已广泛应用于药物定量分析、结构鉴定和代谢转化等研究。本文对液质联用技术在环烯醚萜苷类化合物定性和定量分析两方面的应用进行简要综述。     

The conduct of drug metabolism studies considered good practice (I): analytical systems and in vivo studies

This review serial outlines practical and scientifically-based approaches to conducting contemporary drug metabolism studies considered good practice for drug development and regulatory filing. The present part addresses analytical methods used in the drug metabolism studies and evaluates advantages and disadvantages of these methods as well as the related sample preparations. The methods described here cover from conventional radioactive labeling of drugs, which includes selection of a proper radioisotope, its labeling position, and modern radio-pharmacokinetics employed in microdosing by using a radionuclide to visualize drug distribution in vivo, to currently widely-used liquid chromatography (LC) in conjunction with mass spectrometry (MS), tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for quantitative detection of metabolites and characterization of their structures. Although the analytical tools have progressed sufficiently to allow determination of metabolites, proper in vitro models and in vivo studies have to be carefully designed in order to understand drug metabolism. Points for consideration when conducting in vivo drug metabolism studies include interspecies differences in systemic exposure and metabolism pathways, identification of the major metabolites and unique human metabolites that become the regulatory focus, local metabolism in addition to liver metabolism, time points for sampling, and synthesis of the authentic metabolites to confirm their formation. The next part of this serial article will focus on in vitro drug metabolism studies.     

Current developments in LC-MS for pharmaceutical analysis

The current developments in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and its applications to the analysis of pharmaceuticals are reviewed. Various mass spectrometric techniques, including electrospray and nanospray ionization, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and photoionization and their interface with liquid chromatographic techniques are described. These include high performance liquid chromatography, capillary electrophoresis and capillary electrochromatography and the advantages and disadvantages of each technique are discussed. The applications of LC-MS to the studies of in vitro and in vivo drug metabolism, identification and characterization of impurities in pharmaceuticals, analysis of chiral impurities in drug substances and high-throughput LC-MS-MS systems for applications in the "accelerated drug discovery" process are described.     

The use of in vitro technologies coupled with high resolution accurate mass LC-MS for studying drug metabolism in equine drug surveillance

The detection of drug abuse in horseracing often requires knowledge of drug metabolism, especially if urine is the matrix of choice. In this study, equine liver/lung microsomes/S9 tissue fractions were used to study the phase I metabolism of eight drugs of relevance to equine drug surveillance (acepromazine, azaperone, celecoxib, fentanyl, fluphenazine, mepivacaine, methylphenidate and tripelennamine). In vitro samples were analyzed qualitatively alongside samples originating from in vivo administrations using LC-MS on a high resolution accurate mass Thermo Orbitrap Discovery instrument and by LC-MS/MS on an Applied Biosystems Sciex 5500 Q Trap.Using high resolution accurate mass full-scan analysis on the Orbitrap, the in vitro systems were found to generate at least the two most abundant phase I metabolites observed in vitro for all eight drugs studied. In the majority of cases, in vitro experiments were also able to generate the minor in vivo metabolites and sometimes metabolites that were only observed in vitro. More detailed analyses of fentanyl incubates using LC-MS/MS showed that it was possible to generate good quality spectra from the metabolites generated in vitro. These data support the suggestion of using in vitro incubates as metabolite reference material in place of in vivo post-administration samples in accordance with new qualitative identification guidelines in the 2009 International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation-G7 (ILAC-G7) document.In summary, the in vitro and in vivo phase I metabolism results reported herein compare well and demonstrate the potential of in vitro studies to compliment, refine and reduce the existing equine in vivo paradigm.     

Quantification of polar drugs in human plasma with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has played an important role in quantitative bioanalytical assays. This review summarizes the recent progress on quantification of polar drugs in plasma with LC-MS/MS. Various types of polar analytes were extracted using protein precipitation or solid-phase extraction and precolumn derivatization was utilized in some cases. The analytes were then separated using different types of chromatographic method, which included reversed-phase chromatography, aqueous normal-phase chromatography, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography and ion-pairing chromatography. Stationary phases of mixed mode and porous graphitic carbon materials are gaining acceptance in bioanalytical applications. These technologies can be valuable supplements in the quantification of polar drugs in human plasma with LC-MS/MS. Matrix effects have also been discussed in this review.     

Recent advances in high-throughput quantitative bioanalysis by LC-MS/MS

Liquid chromatography linked to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has played an important role in pharmacokinetics and metabolism studies at various drug development stages since its introduction to the pharmaceutical industry. This article reviews the most recent advances in sample preparation, separation, and the mass spectrometric aspects of high-throughput quantitative bioanalysis of drug and metabolites in biological matrices. Newly introduced techniques such as ultra-performance liquid chromatography with small particles (sub-2 microm) and monolithic chromatography offer improvements in speed, resolution and sensitivity compared to conventional chromatographic techniques. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) on silica columns with low aqueous/high organic mobile phase is emerging as a valuable supplement to the reversed-phase LC-MS/MS. Sample preparation formatted to 96-well plates has allowed for semi-automation of off-line sample preparation techniques, significantly impacting throughput. On-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) utilizing column-switching techniques is rapidly gaining acceptance in bioanalytical applications to reduce both time and labor required to produce bioanalytical results. Extraction sorbents for on-line SPE extend to an array of media including large particles for turbulent flow chromatography, restricted access materials (RAM), monolithic materials, and disposable cartridges utilizing traditional packings such as those used in Spark Holland systems. In the end, this paper also discusses recent studies of matrix effect in LC-MS/MS analysis and how to reduce/eliminate matrix effect in method development and validation.     

LC-MS Development strategies for quantitative bioanalysis

Although quantitative bioanalysis using liquid chromatography in conjunction with atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has been in use for approximately fifteen years, new concepts and technologies are continuously being introduced to enhance the multiple steps of quantitative LC-MS/MS bioanalysis. In this review article, we have focused on concepts and technologies that have recently been introduced to achieve further improvements in biological sample collection/storage and extraction, chromatography and mass spectrometric detection. Under these major headings, a number of specific topics are presented, summarizing the most recent findings in these areas. Included among the topics discussed are: off-line plasma extraction, on-line plasma extraction, enhanced mass resolution, atmospheric pressure photoionization, high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry, electron capture atmospheric pressure chemical ionization, enhancing MS detection via formation of anionic and cationic adducts, chemical derivatization, ultra-performance chromatography, hydrophilic interaction chromatography, and MS-friendly ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography. In the end, we discuss potential pitfalls in LC-MS/MS bioanalysis and the means to avoid them. Such pitfalls may occur due to mass spectral interference from metabolites or prodrugs, due to the use of inappropriate calibration standard and quality control samples for analysis involving unstable drugs or metabolites, and due to the wild card phenomenon commonly known as the matrix effect.     

SPE-MS analysis of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion assays: a tool to increase throughput and steamline workflow

In an effort to create faster and more efficient bioanalytical methods for drug development, many investigators have evaluated a variety of SPE-MS systems. Over the past 15 years online systems have evolved from run times of >1.5 min/sample to <10 s/sample. High-throughput SPE-MS methods for in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion screening assays have been described by several laboratories and shown to produce results comparable to conventional LC-MS/MS systems. While quantitative analysis of small molecules in biological matrixes holds many challenges, for several applications SPE-MS methods have achieved comparable results to LC-MS/MS with the benefit of 10-30-times the throughput. Based on its distinct advantages of throughput and streamlined workflow efficiencies, SPE-MS is a useful tool for the analysis of many in vitro absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion assays and in vivo bioanalytical studies. Further development of SPE-MS methods and analysis workflows has the potential to expand the capabilities of this technology for other challenging bioanalytical applications.     

The impact of recent innovations in the use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in support of drug metabolism studies: are we all the way there yet?

Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicology (ADMET) studies are widely used in drug discovery and development to help obtain the optimal balance of properties necessary to convert lead compounds into drugs that are safe and effective for human use. Drug discovery efforts have been aimed at identifying and addressing metabolism issues at the earliest possible stage, by developing and applying innovative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based techniques and instrumentation, which are both faster and more accurate than prior techniques. Such new approaches are demonstrating considerable potential to improve the overall safety profile of drug candidates throughout the drug discovery and development process. These emerging techniques streamline and accelerate the process by eliminating potentially harmful candidates earlier and improving the safety of new drugs. In the area of drug metabolism, for example, revolutionary changes have been achieved by the combination of LC-MS with innovative instrumentation such as triple quadrupoles, ion traps and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In turn, most ADMET studies have come to rely on LC-MS for the analysis of an ever-increasing workload of potential candidates. This article provides a discussion on the importance of LC-MS in supporting drug metabolism studies, and highlights the relative merits of current applications for LC-MS in drug metabolism testing and analysis. These applications include in vitro and in vivo testing, pharmacokinetic profiling, chiral separations, stable isotope labeling, metabolic activation testing, metabolite characterization and radiolabeled-drug testing.     

Utility of mass spectrometry for in-vitro ADME assays

A balance between pharmacological activity, safety and drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) attributes determines the fate of a new chemical entity (NCE) in drug discovery. Because of the increased number of NCEs requiring DMPK evaluation, several in vitro higher-throughput screens and counter screens designed to evaluate DMPK attributes have been introduced in drug discovery. The DMPK screens evaluate NCEs for potential absorption, metabolism, drug-drug interactions, brain penetration, protein binding and pharmacokinetics. Higher-throughput analytical methodologies for the determination of either a common end product of a screen or the parent compound (and/or possible metabolites) are essential for successful DMPK screens. Because of its speed, sensitivity and specificity, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has become the technology of choice for sample analysis. In this review, several in vitro screening assays that we employ in drug discovery are discussed with an emphasis on LC-MS/MS role in accelerating them.     

液质联用技术在中药化学成分定性分析中的研究进展

中药化学成分复杂,寻找中药化学成分快速识别与定性的方法是亟待解决的问题。液质联用技术具有分离能力强、检测灵敏度高和专属性强等特点,在中药研究中发挥重要作用。为了寻找快速定性中药化学成分的方法,加快中药现代化的步伐,从四级杆飞行时间串联质谱、静电场轨道阱质谱和离子淌度质谱3种质谱技术以及诊断离子、分子网络、最佳碰撞能、碰撞截面、定量结构-保留关系模型5种研究方法对近年来液质联用技术在中药化学成分定性分析方面的发展进行综述,以期为中药质量控制和中药现代分析提供新的思路和方法。     

Defining the specificity of recombinant human erythropoietin confirmation in equine samples by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The proteotypic human EPO peptides YLLEAK (T4), SLTTLLR (T11), TITADTFR (T14), and VYSNFLR (T17) are often used to confirm the presence of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) in equine samples. Each of these peptides contains one or more isomeric leucine or isoleucine amino acids, raising the possibility that a simple leucine/isoleucine substitution could lead to a false identification when compared with a rhEPO reference standard. To examine this possibility variants of these four peptides were analysed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). These studies indicate that confirmation of rhEPO in equine samples by immuno-affinity capture and LC-MS/MS analysis is true and accurate. It was also found that chromatography played a greater role in determining LC-MS/MS specificity than tandem mass spectrometry and that, in the case of more hydrophilic peptides, the accuracy of peptide identification could be enhanced by the inclusion of ¹³C and ¹⁵N labelled peptide internal standards.     

Regulated LC-MS/MS bioanalysis technology for therapeutic antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins using structure-indicated approach

In recent studies, the development of bioanalysis technologies using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has attracted attention. Our developed nano-surface and molecular-orientation limited (nSMOL) proteolysis enables Fab-specific proteolysis and is optimal for LC-MS/MS analysis of antibody drugs and Fc-fusion proteins in biological samples. In this nSMOL method, antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins are held in pores of the particle and the subsequent proteolysis is carried out with protease-immobilized nanoparticles. The Fab of antibodies or fused region of Fc-fusion protein can be held to orient toward the reaction solution. The access of the immobilized protease is limited to a part in the structure of protein substrate on the particle surface. Thus, nSMOL proteolysis reacts selectively at the Fab complementarity-determining region of antibodies or N-terminal specific domain of Fc-fusion proteins and can be applied to both types of drugs. We have already evaluated drug concentrations in biological samples pretreated with nSMOL proteolysis using LC-MS/MS for more than twenty drugs, of which ten drugs have been fully validated and published. In this review, we discuss the development and application of LC-MS/MS bioanalysis, which enables the bioanalysis of therapeutic antibodies and Fc-fusion proteins by focusing on a structure-based approach.     

Metabolism of a new neuroprotective agent for ischemia-rep-erfusion damage,KR-31543 in the rats using liquid chroma-tography/electrospray mass spectrometry

KR-31543, (2S,3R,4S)-6-amino-4-[N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-ylmethyl)amino]-3,4-dihydro-2-dimethoxymethyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-2H-1-benzopyran is a new neuroprotective agent for ischemia-reperfusion damage. The in vitro and in vivo metabolism of KR-31543 in rats has been studied by LC-electrospray mass spectrometry. Rat liver microsomal incubation of KR-31543 in the presence of NADPH resulted in the formation of a metabolite M1. M1 was identified as N-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-(2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-ylmethyl)amine on the basis of LC-MS/MS analysis with the synthesized authentic standard. Rat CYP3A1 and 3A2 are the major CYP isozymes involved in the formation of M1.     

Metabolic profiling of roots of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) from different geographical areas by ESI/MS/MS and determination of major metabolites by LC-ESI/MS and LC-ESI/MS/MS

Liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS) has been applied to the full characterization of saponins and phenolics in hydroalcoholic extracts of roots of liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Relative quantitative analyses of the samples with respect to the phenolic constituents and to a group of saponins related to glycyrrhizic acid were performed using LC-ESI/MS. For the saponin constituents, full scan LC-MS/MS fragmentation of the protonated (positive ion mode) or deprotonated (negative ion mode) molecular species generated diagnostic fragment ions that provided information concerning the triterpene skeleton and the number and nature of the substituents. On the basis of the specific fragmentation of glycyrrhizic acid, an LC-MS/MS method was developed in order to quantify the analyte in the liquorice root samples. Chinese G. glabra roots contained the highest levels of glycyrrhizic acid, followed by those from Italy (Calabria).     

Recent applications of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in natural products bioanalysis

Natural flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and sesquiterpenoids have been extensively investigated because of their biological and physiological significances, as well as their promising clinical uses. It is necessary to monitor them or their metabolites in biological fluids for both pre-clinical studies and routine clinical uses. The successful hyphenation of LC and MS, which was thought as "the bird wants to marry with fish", has been conducted widely in biological samples analysis. This present paper reviewed the feasibility of LC-MS techniques in the identification and quantification of natural products (flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and sesquiterpenoids) in biological fluids, dealing with sample preparation, LC techniques, suitability of different MS techniques. Perspective of LC-MS was also discussed to show the potential of this technology. The citations cover the period 2002-2006. We conclude that LC-MS is an extremely powerful tool for the analysis of natural products in biological samples.     

利妥昔及其生物类似药在生物样品中的定量分析技术进展

利妥昔是当前主要的单抗靶向治疗药物,伴随着越来越多的相关生物类似药临床评价需求,对于开发快速有效的定量方法来分析生物基质中利妥昔及其生物类似药提出了更高要求。本文综述了配体结合法、液质联用技术以及新兴定量技术检测该品种血药浓度的应用,供分析测试人员在开发利妥昔等单抗药物定量方法时参考。     

Analysis and screening of combinatorial libraries using mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry is a highly selective and high throughput analytical technique that is ideally suited for the identification and purity determination of large numbers of compounds prepared using combinatorial chemistry or for the dereplication of natural products. Compounds may be characterized based on molecular weight, elemental composition and structural features based on fragmentation patterns. When coupled to a separation technique such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometric applications may be expanded to include analysis of complex mixtures. However, the slower speed of the separation step reduces the throughput of the analysis. This review concerns the application of mass spectrometry to the characterization of combinatorial libraries and the screening of library and natural product mixtures. Strategies to enhance the throughput of LC-MS are discussed including fast HPLC and parallel LC-MS. Also, mass spectrometry-based screening methods are described including frontal affinity chromatography-mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography LC-MS, direct electrospray mass spectrometry of receptor-ligand complexes, affinity chromatography-mass spectrometry, and pulsed ultrafiltration mass spectrometry.