High‐throughput doping control analysis of 28 amphetamine‐type stimulants in equine plasma using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method (HILIC–MS/MS) was developed for the simultaneous determination of 28 amphetamine‐type stimulants (ATSs) in equine plasma for doping control analysis. In this method, stimulants were recovered from equine plasma by liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) at pH 9.5 using methyl tert‐butyl ether and detected on a Thermo Finnigan triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in positive‐ion mode electrospray ionization. All stimulants were eluted within 7 minutes and baseline separation was achieved for isomeric and isobaric compounds using HILIC chromatography. Extraction efficiency was greater than 80% and matrix effect was acceptable for most stimulants. The limit of detection (LOD) was in the range of 10–50 pg/mL and the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was in the range of 50–100 pg/mL. Quadratic regression was employed for quantification and the dynamic range of quantification was 50–10000 pg/mL. Confirmatory analysis criteria were established using product ion ratios and retention time. The limit of confirmation (LOC) was in the range of 20–100 pg/mL. Stability study results indicated that some stimulants were unstable in equine plasma at room temperature and 4°C. However, all the stimulants studied were stable at ?20°C and ? 80°C for the 6 month study period.     

Association between cigarette smoking and urinary excretion of 1,N2-ethenoguanine measured by isotope dilution liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry

Levels of the promutagenic 1,N2-ethenoguanine (1,N2-epsilonGua), an etheno DNA adduct derived mainly from lipid peroxidation, in experimental animals are associated with risk of cancer formation. Since 1,N2-epsilonGua can be repaired by human glycosylases, it is possible to use it as a biomarker for cancer risk assessment in humans. In the present study, a highly sensitive and specific stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI/MS/MS) was developed for accurate quantification of 1,N2-epsilonGua in human urine. The sample pretreatment involved a consecutive strong cation exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) and reversed phase SPE chromatography. The pretreated sample was analyzed by LC-ESI/MS/MS under multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) using a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The detection limit of 1,N2-epsilonGua using this LC-ESI/MS/MS assay was 1.0 pg (5.8 fmol) injected on-column. Levels of urine samples collected from healthy volunteers were found to range from 0 to 199 pg/mL, and levels as low as 5.0 pg/mL (29 pM) could be accurately quantified. After adjusting for creatinine levels and body weight, an statistically significant association was observed between urinary levels of 1,N2-epsilonGua and cigarette smoking (p = 0.0006). This highly specific and sensitive assay should be valuable in measuring urinary 1,N2-epsilonGua as a potential noninvasive biomarker for oxidative DNA damage.     

Determination of lansoprazole in human plasma by rapid resolution liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry: Application to a bioequivalence study on Chinese volunteers

A simple, sensitive and rapid LC/MS/MS method was developed for the quantification of lansoprazole in human plasma. After a simple sample preparation procedure by one-step protein precipitation with acetonitrile, lansoprazole and the internal standard bicalutamide were chromatographed on a Zorbax SB-C₁₈ (3.0 mm × 150 mm, 3.5 μm, Agilent) column with the mobile phase consisted of methanol–water (70:30, v/v, containing 5 mM ammonium formate, pH was adjusted to 7.85 by 1% ammonia solution). Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via negative eletrospray ionization source (ESI⁻). The lower limit of quantification was 5.5 ng/mL, and the assay exhibited a linear range of 5.5–2200.0 ng/mL. The validated method was successfully applied to investigate the bioequivalence between two kinds of preparation (test vs. reference product) in twenty-eight healthy male Chinese volunteers.     

Quantitative assay for bradykinin in rat plasma by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

An assay to quantify bradykinin in rat plasma has been developed and validated, using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sar-D-Phe(8)-des-Arg(9)-bradykinin was used as internal standard. Aprotinin was added to rat plasma to inhibit the activity of proteinases. Recoveries for solid-phase extraction (SPE) on Strata X reversed phase were greater than 80%. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer equipped with an electrospray source (ESI), operating in the positive ion-mode, was used for detection. The assay was validated and stability was explored. Bradykinin (10-500 ng/mL) was quantified with accuracy values (% RE) below 10% and intra- and inter-day precisions (% RSD) below 12 and 16%, respectively, for all concentrations. The method was successfully applied to several plasma samples from low levels kallikrein rats (LKRs) compared with normal kallikrein rats (NKRs).     

Simultaneous determination of ciclesonide and its active metabolite desisobutyryl-ciclesonide in human plasma by LC-APCI-MS/MS: application to pharmacokinetic study in healthy Chinese volunteers

A sensitive and highly selective liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of ciclesonide (CIC) and its active metabolite, desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (des-CIC), in human plasma. Plasma samples were extracted using methyl tert-butyl ether with mifepristone as an internal standard (IS). Separation was carried out on a C(18) column using a mixture of 0.1% formic acid solution and methanol as the mobile phase with linear gradient elution. The detection was operated with positive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) by selective multiple reaction monitoring (SRM). The chief benefit of the present method was the high sensitivity, with the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) as low as 10pg/mL and the linearity ranging from 10 to 10,000pg/mL for both CIC and des-CIC. The method was fully validated and successfully applied to determine CIC and des-CIC simultaneously in human plasma and proved to be suitable for phase I clinical pharmacokinetic study of inhaled ciclesonide in healthy Chinese volunteers.     

Sensitive determination of a pharmaceutical compound and its metabolites in human plasma by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with on-line solid-phase extraction

This paper describes the determination of a drug candidate and two metabolites in human plasma by column-switching LC-MS/MS after protein precipitation. Starting from a standard method with a quantitation limit of 0.5 ng/mL, a highly sensitive assay was developed, employing UHPLC separation and detection on an API 5000 mass spectrometer. The injected plasma equivalent was increased from 6 to 20 μL; conventional column trapping for compound enrichment and removal of matrix constituents was combined with high-pressure analytical separation using small particle columns to improve resolution and signal-to-noise ratio. Quantitation limits were thus lowered to between 5 and 20 pg/mL, offering the possibility to provide bioanalytical support for microdosing studies in humans. Excellent assay quality and robustness were achieved by both methods.     

Microdosing Cocktail Assay Development for Drug–Drug Interaction Studies

Methodology for analysis of a microdosing drug cocktail designed to evaluate the contribution of drug transporters and drug metabolizing enzymes to disposition was developed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry–based detection. Fast and sensitive methods were developed and qualified for the quantification of statins (pitavastatin, pitavastain lactone, rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, 2-hydroxy, and 4-hydroxy atorvastatin), midazolam, and dabigatran in human plasma. Chromatographic separation was accomplished using reversed-phase liquid chromatography or hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography with gradient elution and detection by tandem mass spectrometry in the positive ionization mode using electrospray ionization. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) for the statins assay was 1 pg/mL for the 6 analytes with a linear range from 1 to 1000 pg/mL processing 250 μL plasma sample. The midazolam assay LLOQ was 0.5 pg/mL with a linear range of 0.5 to 1000 pg/mL. For the dabigatran assay, the LLOQ was 10 pg/mL with a linear range of 10 to 5000 pg/mL processing 100 μL plasma sample. The intraday and interday precision and accuracy of the assays were within acceptable ranges, and the assays were successfully applied to support a study where a microdose cocktail was dosed to healthy human subjects for simultaneous assessment of clinical drug-drug interactions mediated by major drug transporters and CYP3A.     

A sensitive LC/MS/MS bioanalysis assay of orally administered lipoic acid in rat blood and brain tissue

A sensitive liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) bioanalytical method was developed and validated to analyze lipoic acid (LA) in rat blood and brain samples. Ten mobile phase combinations were investigated during method development. Mobile phase combination of 0.1% acetic acid (pH 4 adjusted with ammonia solution)/acetonitrile was most optimum in terms of sensitivity and peak shape of LA and the internal standard, valproic acid. Sample extraction method was explored using liquid–liquid extraction and protein precipitation methods. Protein precipitation yielded the highest recovery of the analytes from blood and brain ranging from 92 to 115%. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of LA was 0.1 ng/mL (0.485 nM) in both blood and brain while on-column lower limit of detection (LLOD) was 0.03 pg. The precision (% R.S.D.) ranged from 1.49 to 26.39% and 1.49 to 10.89% for intra- and inter-day assays, respectively. The accuracy ranged from 91.2 to 116.17% for intra-day assay and 102.68 to 114.33% for inter-day assay.     

Development of a bioanalytical method for quantification of a 15-mer oligonucleotide at sub-ng/ml concentrations using LC-MS/MS

LC-MS/MS provides a powerful technique for the selective quantification of therapeutic oligonucleotides; however, the LOQ (typically >1 ng/ml) may be higher than desirable for clinical bioanalysis. A method has been developed to allow quantification of a 15-mer unmodified DNA oligonucleotide in human plasma using SPE and UHPLC with MS/MS detection. The LOQ of this assay was 0.05 nM (～250 pg/ml). This method was then further developed by the inclusion of online SPE to increase loading and apply additional sample cleanup. This allowed for improved assay precision at lower concentrations and increased signal, thus allowing the method to be validated over the range of 10-4000 pM (approximately 50-20,000 pg/ml). The method is accurate, precise and selective and it provides proof-of-concept for sub-ng/ml, high-throughput quantification of oligonucleotides using online SPE coupled to ion-pair, reversed-phase LC-MS/MS.     

Simultaneous quantification of losartan and active metabolite in human plasma by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry using irbesartan as internal standard

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method employing electronspray ionization was developed and validated for quantification of losartan and its carboxylic acid metabolite in human plasma using irbesartan as internal standard (IS). Following a simple pretreatment procedure, the analytes were separated using a gradient mobile phase on reverse phase C₁₈ column. Selected reaction monitoring was specific for losartan, losartan acid and irbesartan. The method validation demonstrated the specificity, lower limit of quantification, accuracy and precision of measurements. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 2.0–400 ng/mL for losartan and 1.85–370 ng/mL for losartan acid. A run time of 3.5 min for each sample made it possible to analyze more than 200 samples per day. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in bioavailability/bioequivalence studies.     

Improved oxytocin analysis from human serum and urine by orbitrap ESI‐LC‐HRAM‐MS

Native circulating oxytocin (OT) levels in non‐pregnant/non‐lactating/non‐medicated humans are very low (≤ 8 pg/mL). The lower limit of detection (LLOD) of our previous liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method (10–25 pg/mL) precluded their quantification in serum and urine. Thus, we sought to improve the LC–MS sensitivity of OT measurements in these matrices by hydrophobic tagging and solid phase extraction (SPE). In the former approach, OT was reduced then alkylated with N‐alkyl acetamide (C12, C14, C16, and C18) tags or derivatized using sulfonyl chloride‐based reagents. In the latter approach, native OT in serum and urine was concentrated by offline SPE using gradient acetonitrile washings after first crashing with acetonitrile. Peak urinary eluate fractions were further concentrated online then analyzed by orbitrap‐based LC–MS with electrospray ionization. All hydrophobic OT derivatives had lower sensitivity than native OT. Washing with a water‐acetonitrile gradient during SPE improved the LLOD of OT in spiked serum to 2.5 pg/mL, while adding a subsequent online‐concentration step improved the LLOD in spiked urine to 1–5 pg/mL and allowed us to detect OT in urine from lactating women. We were unable to improve the sensitivity of OT measurements by hydrophobic tagging or by derivatization using sulfonyl chloride‐based reagents. However, we were successful in improving the sensitivity of native OT measurements in serum and urine 2‐ and 5‐fold, respectively, from our previous orbitrap‐based LC–MS method. Offline SPE was mandatory for both matrices and a subsequent online‐concentration step was required for urine.     

液相质谱串联法同时测定舒尼替尼及其活性代谢产物SU12662在BABL/c裸鼠血浆中的浓度及其药物动力学研究(英文)

本研究建立并验证了一种灵敏、快速、简单的液质联用方法,用于同时测定BABL/c裸鼠血浆中舒尼替尼及其活性代谢产物SU12662的药物浓度。血浆样品采用蛋白沉淀方法处理,并使用帕唑帕尼作为内标。采用C18反相柱进行分离,流动相为10 mM甲酸胺–乙腈(65:35,v/v,pH 3.25),流速0.5 m L/min。所有化合物均采用电喷雾电离源,正离子方式检测。舒尼替尼及SU12662的最低定量下限均为0.5 ng/m L,线性范围均为0.5–1000 ng/m L(r>0.99)。该方法对舒尼替尼及SU12662的测定均具有良好准确度以及可靠的日内、日间精密度,方法稳定性良好,无明显基质效应。此方法成功用于BABL/c裸鼠口服20 mg/kg舒尼替尼的药物代谢动力学研究。     

Development and validation of a LC–MS/MS method for determination of bivalirudin in human plasma: Application to a clinical pharmacokinetic study

A simple, sensitive and rapid LC–MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the identification and quantification of bivalirudin in human plasma using nafarelin as the internal standard. Following protein precipitation with methanol, the analytes were separated on a C₁₈ column interfaced with a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer using positive electrospray ionization. Quantification of bivalirudin was conducted by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) of the transitions of m/z 1091.4 → (356.4 + 227.4) for bivalirudin and m/z 662.4 → 328.5 for IS. The lower limit of quantification was 1.25 ng/ml, and the assay exhibited a linear range of 1.25–500 ng/ml. The developed assay method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic (PK) study in healthy volunteers after intravenous administration of bivalirudin.     

Determination and pharmacokinetics of danshensu in rat plasma after oral administration of danshen extract using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination and pharmacokinetics of danshensu in rat plasma samples using ferulic acid as internal standard (IS). The plasma samples were treated by liquid-liquid extraction, and the analyses were determined using electrospray negative ionization mass spectrometry in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The signal intensity of the m/z 196.8 --> 134.8 transition of danshensu was found to relate linearly to danshensu concentrations in the plasma from 5-500 ng/mL. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) as determined by the LC/MS/MS method amounted to 5 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision was below 10.82%, and the accuracy was between -3.51% and +11.92%. The validated LC/MS/MS method was applied to a pharmacokinetic study in which danshen extract (containing 40 mg/g danshensu) was administered orally to rats at a single dose of 200 mg/kg in 2% water.     

Sensitive quantification of the somatostatin analog AP102 in plasma by ultra‐high pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry and application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats

AP102 is a di‐iodinated octapeptide somatostatin agonist (SSA) designed to treat acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors. A sensitive and selective method was validated for the quantification of AP102 in plasma following the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. Sample preparation was performed using solid‐phase extraction microplates. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an ultra‐high pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) C18 column in 6.0 minutes. The compounds were quantified using multiple reaction monitoring on a tandem quadrupole mass spectrometer with ¹³C,¹⁵N‐labeled AP102 as internal standard. Calibration ranged from 50 to 10000 pg/mL. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was measured at 20 pg/mL, and robust analytical performances were obtained with trueness at 99.2%–100.0%, intra‐assay imprecision at 2.5%–4.4%, and inter‐assay imprecision at 8.9%–9.7%. The accuracy profiles (total error) built on the 3 concentrations levels showed accuracy within the 70%–130% range. AP102 is remarkably stable since no proteolytic fragments were detected on plasma samples analyzed by Orbitrap‐MS. Pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in rats, after single dose (1, 3, and 10 μg/kg, sc) and continuous subcutaneous administration (osmotic minipumps for 28 days, 3.0 or 10.0 μg/kg/h). AP102 showed a rapid absorption by the subcutaneous route (T_max: 15–30 minutes) and a fast elimination (t_1/2: 33–86 minutes). The PK profile of AP102 exhibited a mean clearance of 1.67 L/h and a mean distribution volume at steady state of 7.16 L/kg, about 10‐fold higher than those observed with other SSA or non‐ and mono‐iodinated AP102. LogD_7.4 determination confirmed the lipophilic properties of AP102 that might influence its distribution in tissues.     

Development and validation of a sensitive liquid chromatography/electrospray tandem mass spectrometry assay for the quantification of olanzapine in human plasma

A simple, sensitive and rapid liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of olanzapine, atypical antipsychotic drug, in human plasma using loratadine as internal standard (IS). Following liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes were separated using an isocratic mobile phase on a reverse phase C18 column and analyzed by MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode using the respective [M+H]+ ions, m/z 313/256 for olanzapine and m/z 383/337 for the IS. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.1-30 ng/mL for olanzapine in human plasma. The lower limit of quantification was 100 pg/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 10%. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. The average absolute recovery of olanzapine from spiked plasma samples was 85.5+/-1.9%. A run time of 2.0 min for each sample made it possible to analyze 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.     

Quantitative determination of rosuvastatin in human plasma by ion pair liquid-liquid extraction using liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A simple and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the quantification of rosuvastatin in human plasma. After being treated with acetic acid and tetrabutyl ammonium hydroxide, the analyte was extracted by simple one-step liquid-liquid extraction with the internal standard (IS: estrone). The chromatographic separation was performed on a Phenomenex Luna C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of 2% formic acid/methanol (20:90, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.00 mL/min with a split of 200 microL to mass spectrometer. The retention time of rosuvastatin and internal standard was 2.3 and 3.4 min, respectively. Triple-quadrupole MS/MS detection was operated in positive mode by monitoring the transition of m/z 482-->258 for rosuvastatin and m/z 271-->253 for IS. Validation results indicated that the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 0.1 ng mL(-1) and the assay exhibited a linear range of 0.1-20 ng mL(-1) and gave a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.9990 or better. Inaccuracy was less than 8.4% and imprecision less than 12.8% at all tested concentration levels. The analyte was stable in human plasma following three freeze/thaw cycles and for up to 8 weeks following storage at -20 degrees C. The assay was successfully applied to the analysis of rosuvastatin in human plasma samples derived from clinical pre-trials.     

Establishment of a liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometry method for quantification of tetrandrine in rat plasma and its application to pharmacokinetic study

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method (LC/MS/MS) for the determination of tetrandrine in rat plasma has been developed, fully validated and successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after a single oral administration. Sample preparation involves a liquid-liquid extraction with n-hexane-dichlormethane (65:35, containing 1% 2-propanol isopropyl alcohol, v/v). Tetrandrine and brodimoprim (internal standard) were well separated by LC with a Dikma C(18) column using acetonitrile-methanol-ammonium formate aqueous solution (20mM) containing 0.3% formic acid (20:30:50, v/v/v) as mobile phase. Detection was performed on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The ionization was optimized using ESI(+) and selectivity was achieved using MS/MS analysis, m/z 623.0-->381.0 and m/z 339.0-->281.0 for tetrandrine and I.S., respectively. The present method exhibited good linearity over the concentration range of 5-2,000 ng/mL for tetrandrine in rat plasma with a lower limit of quantification of 5 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision were 2.0-9.2% and 4.5-9.4%, and the intra- and inter-day accuracy ranged from -7.6 to 10.3% and -6.0 to 5.3%, respectively. No endogenous compounds were found to interfere with the analysis, and tetrandrine was stable during the whole assay period. The method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after an intragastric administration (i.g.) of tetrandrine to SD rats with a single dose of 50mg/kg. The results confirm that the assay is suitable for the pharmacokinetic study of tetrandrine.     

Determination of pinostrobin in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS: application to pharmacokinetics

A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of pinostrobin in rat plasma was developed using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the first time. Isoliquiritigenin was used as an internal standard in rat plasma. Chromatographic separation was performed on an HiQ Sil C₁₈ column with isocratic elution at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. The mobile phase consisted of water and methanol (9:91, v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid. The quantification limit was 10 ng/mL within a linear range of 10-1000 ng/mL (R = 0.9984). The intra- and inter-day assay precision ranged from 3.8-5.3% to 3.2-5.2%, respectively, and the intra- and inter-day assay accuracy was between 93.2-95.1% and 95.5-104.3%, respectively. Our results indicated that the LC-MS/MS method is effective for pharmacokinetic study of pinostrobin in rat plasma.     

UPLC-MS/MS定性定量检测清脑保心康胶囊中非法添加的利血平

目的建立UPLC-MS/MS方法,快速定性定量检测保健食品中非法添加的利血平。方法采用超高效液相色谱串联三重四极杆质谱仪,色谱条件:Agela VenusilASB-C18(2.1 mm×50mm,3μm)色谱柱,柱温35℃,流动相为:乙腈-0.2%甲酸水溶液=65∶35,流速为0.2mL/min。质谱条件:ESI源,多反应检测(MRM)。以保留时间及定性离子对之间的相对丰度定性,以定量离子对峰面积定量。结果利血平在1.092～54.600 ng/mL范围内呈现良好的线性关系(r>0.9998);平均加样回收率98.24%;定量限为109.2pg。结论本方法定性可靠、定量准确,且快速简便,可用于保健食品中非法添加利血平的检测。