SFC-MS/MS for orthogonal separation of hydroxylated 17α-methyltestosterone isomers.

Because of their performance-enhancing effect, anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are often misused in sports. Nearly half of the adverse analytical findings (AAF) in 2022 doping controls are correlated to AAS misuse. Metabolites play a crucial role in the bioanalysis of endogenous and exogenous steroids. Therefore, one important field in antidoping research is the investigation on drug metabolizing and steroidogenic enzymes. The introduction of a hydroxy group is the most common reaction, which is catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in phase-I metabolism. Analysis of AAS metabolites is commonly performed using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) systems. Laborious sample preparation and extended run times compared to liquid chromatography (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods are usually correlated with this type of analysis. On the other hand, liquid chromatography (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS[/MS]) methods have a lower separation efficiency than GC-MS methods. Both techniques lack selectivity for hydroxylated 17α-methyltestosterone metabolites. Therefore, as an orthogonal analytical approach, a supercritical fluid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to separate four hydroxy metabolites of 17α-methyltestosterone (2α-/2ß-/4-/6ß-hydroxy-17α-methyltestosterone). This project aimed to get a more in-depth look at the metabolization and analysis of 17α-methyltestosterone and its hydroxylated metabolites. The developed method revealed lower limits of quantitation between 0.6 and 6 ng/ml at an accuracy of 85-115% using a matrix matched calibration. An in vitro study with human liver microsomes shows 6ß-hydroxy-17α-methyltestosterone as main metabolite (15.9%) as well as the metabolite 2ß-hydroxy-17α-methyltestosterone (0.5%). The results show that the developed method is sensitive and robust. In addition, the method allows a previously missing discrimination of the hydroxylated metabolites in a short analysis time without prior, complex derivatizations.

Novel approach to supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of metal ions using EDTA complexation.

BACKGROUND: Reliable methods enabling detection of metal ions, and especially heavy metals, in different matrices are necessary in various fields such as ecology, pharmaceuticals and toxicology. As some of the currently used methods suffer from spectral and chemical interferences, this study investigates the applicability of SFC-MS/MS for the determination of metal ions. RESULTS: Effective novel approaches for metal ion analysis using CO2-based mobile phase were developed using three ligands forming metal complexes. As metal-EDTA complexes are prepared by simple addition of EDTA to the solution containing metal ions, this approach to metal ion analysis does not require laborious synthesis and isolation of solid metal-complexes. Besides, two other approaches using diethyldithiocarbamate and acetylacetonate as ligands were compared. Metal complexes of Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Al, Mn, and Zn with all 3 ligands were synthesized and their identity was confirmed by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The suitability of the three developed UHPSFC-MS/MS methods was examined using the determination of calibration range and repeatability of injections. Moreover, the universality of the developed UHPSFC-MS/MS method for the determination of metal-EDTA complexes was proved by analyzing Ni, Bi and Pb as additional metal ions. SIGNIFICANCE AND NOVELTY: This study demonstrates the extended range of applicability for SFC based separations. For the first time, the possibility to analyze metal complexes with EDTA using a fast and reliable ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPSFC-MS/MS) method is reported. The three developed UHPSFC-MS/MS methods are able to separate DDC, acac, and EDTA complexes of various metals very efficiently (total cycle times of 5, 2, and 3 min, respectively). They offer a fast and green alternative to chromatographic methods commonly used for metal ion analysis.

Medaka embryos as a model for metabolism of anabolic steroids.

In anti-doping science, the knowledge of drug metabolism is a prerequisite to identify analytical targets for the detection of misused prohibited substances. As the most obvious way to study xenobiotic metabolism, the administration to human volunteers, faces ethical concerns, there is a need for model systems. In the present study, we investigated whether Oryzias latipes (medaka) embryos might be an alternative, non-animal test model to study human-like metabolism. In the present study, we exposed medaka embryos at the morula stage to the anabolic steroid metandienone (10 µM or 50 µM) for a period of 2 or 8 days. According to the fish embryo toxicity test (OECD test), we assessed the developmental status of the embryos. We further investigated metandienone metabolites by high-performance liquid chromatography- and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Medaka embryos produced three mono-hydroxylated and one reduced metabolite known from human biotransformation. Developmental malformations were observed for the exposition to 50 µM metandienone, while a significant elevation of the heart beat was also present in those individuals exposed to the lower dose for 8 days. The present study demonstrates that the medaka embryo represents a promising model to study human-like metabolism. Moreover, the judgement of developmental parameters of the fish embryos enables for the simultaneous assessment of toxicity.

Two dimensional chromatography mass spectrometry: Quantitation of chiral shifts in metabolism of propranolol in bioanalysis.

In this study a heart-cutting 2D-LC method was successfully developed and optimized in order to discriminate and quantitate (S)-propranolol, (R)-propranolol, and its hydroxy metabolites, namely the isomeric (S)-4'­hydroxy propranolol, (R)-4'­hydroxy propranolol, (S)-5'­hydroxy propranolol, (R)-5'­hydroxy propranolol, (S)-7'-hydroxy propranolol, and (R)-7'­hydroxy propranolol in one chromatographic run. Thereby, experiments investigating chiral discrimination in ring hydroxylation of propranolol were made feasible. Analysis of human urine samples after administration of a single oral dose of 40 mg of propranolol clearly revealed considerable chiral shifts in propranolol and its 4'-, 5'-, and 7'-hydroxy metabolites. Furthermore, the excretion rates of the individual (S)- and (R)-enantiomers were continuously monitored over 24 h post administration. Studies were performed utilizing a 2D-LC system hyphenated to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The chromatographic system was endued with a reversed phase column (phenyl-hexyl) in first dimension and a teicoplanin based chiral column in second dimension. The method was basically validated and successfully evaluated as robust. Calibration was performed achieving accuracy between 80% and 120%. Maximal excretion rates of (S)-propranolol, (R)-propranolol, (S)-4'­hydroxy propranolol, (R)-4'­hydroxy propranolol, (S)-5'­hydroxy propranolol, (R)-5'­hydroxy propranolol, and (R)-7'­hydroxy propranolol were 237 ng/min, 281 ng/min, 4 ng/min, 4 ng/min, 1 ng/min, 9 ng/min, and 3 ng/min, respectively.