In-Syringe Electrokinetic Protein Removal from Biological Samples prior to Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

Here, an electrokinetic extraction (EkE) syringe is presented allowing for on-line electrokinetic removal of serum proteins before ESI-MS. The proposed concept is demonstrated by the determination of pharmaceuticals from human serum within minutes, with sample preparation limited to a 5× dilution of the sample in the background electrolyte (BGE) and application of voltage, both of which can be performed in-syringe. Signal enhancements of 3.6-32 fold relative to direct infusion of diluted serum and up to 10.8 fold enhancement, were obtained for basic and acidic pharmaceuticals, respectively. Linear correlations for the basic drugs by EkE-ESI-MS/MS were achieved, covering the necessary clinical range with LOQs of 5.3, 7.8, 6.1, and 17.8 ng mL-1 for clomipramine, chlorphenamine, pindolol, and atenolol, respectively. For the acidic drugs, the EkE-ESI-MS LOQs were 3.1 µg mL-1 and 2.9 µg mL-1 for naproxen and paracetamol, respectively. The EkE-ESI-MS and EkE-ESI-MS/MS methods showed good accuracy (%found of 81 % to 120 %), precision (≤20 %), and linearity (r>0.997) for all the studied drugs in spiked serum samples.

The cation-selective exhaustive injection and sweeping capillary electrophoresis method for the analysis of chlorpheniramine enantiomers in rat plasma.

Chlorpheniramine is a potent antihistaminic administered as a racemic mixture, while its clinical activity is mainly associated with the S-enantiomer. In this study, a sensitive and rapid on-line preconcentration capillary electrophoresis (CE) method, cation-selective exhaustive injection (CSEI) and sweeping method was established and validated for the analysis of two chlorpheniramine enantiomers. Parameters influencing separation and enhancement efficiency were investigated, including cyclodextrin (CD) types and concentration, background electrolyte pH, type and content of organic modifier, injection time of water plug, injection time and voltage of sample. A zone of 30mM Tris buffer at pH 3.5 without chiral selector was injected into the capillary followed by a 3s water plug, allowing for the analytes to be electrokinetically injected at a voltage of 10kV for 80s. A 30mM Tris buffer at pH 3.5 consisting of 20mM sulfated-ß-cyclodextrin (S-ß-CD) and 5% methanol was found to be highly efficient for the separation of the two enantiomers. The present method manifested that high sensitivity (0.025µg/mL for the thethe lower limit of quantification), satisfactory accuracy (89.2%-95.0%) and precision (relative standard deviation within 8.4%) were achieved as well as favourable stability. The extraction recoveries of two enantiomers were both above 72.5%. Finally, the developed method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of the two enantiomers in rat plasma after oral administration of racemic chlorpheniramine.

Determination of Acetaminophen, Dexchlorpheniramine, Caffeine, Cotinine and Salicylic acid in 100 µL of Whole Blood by UHPLC-MS/MS.

A sensitive and robust ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method has been developed and validated for the quantification of acetaminophen, dexchlorpheniramine, caffeine, cotinine and salicylic acid in postmortem blood samples from children younger than 4 years. The sample was prepared by a protein precipitation with ice-cold methanol/acetonitrile mixture (85:15, v/v). The organic phase was evaporated to dryness and the residue was dissolved in the mobile phase. Separation, with gradient elution and an acidic mobile phase, was achieved on an Acquity UPLC® HSS T3 column. The compounds were quantified using a multiple reaction-monitoring mode. Two transitions were monitored for each compound and one for the deuterated internal standards. The mass spectrometric detection in the positive ion mode was performed for all the compounds except salicylic acid which was detected in the negative ionization mode. The limits of quantification were as follows: acetaminophen 0.30 mg/L, dexchlorpheniramine 0.0050 mg/L, caffeine 0.099 mg/L, cotinine 0.00035 mg/L and salicylic acid 1.3 mg/L. Between-assay and within-assay precisions were ≤15% (biases: -10% to 26%) and ≤10%, respectively. Extraction recoveries varied from 93% to 137%. The matrix effects in blood, corrected with deuterated internal standards, were 100% ± 10% for all compounds except dexchlorpheniramine (111%) and caffeine (138%).

Simultaneous determination of kaempferol, quercetin, mangiferin, gallic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and chlorpheniramine maleate in rat plasma after oral administration of Mang-Guo-Zhi-Ke tablets by UHPLC-MS/MS and its application to pharmacokinetics.

Mang-Guo-Zhi-Ke tablets (MGZKTs) is an effective Chinese patent medicine. It contains mango leaf extract as the main raw material and the antihistamine drug, chlorpheniramine maleate is included in the formulation. However, its pharmacokinetic effect is rarely reported. A highly sensitive, reliable and rapid high-throughput method using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) was used to simultaneously determine kaempferol, quercetin, mangiferin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid and chlorpheniramine maleate in rat plasma after oral administration of MGZKTs. The method was successfully developed and fully validated to investigate the pharmacokinetics of MGZKTs. Chloramphenicol and clarithromycin were used as internal standards (IS). A practicable protein precipitation procedure with methanol was adopted for sample preparation. The samples were separated on an Acquity UHPLC Syncronis C18 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm) using 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile as the mobile phase. The flow rate was set at 0.4 mL/min. The obtained calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of ~1-1000 ng/mL for plasma (r > 0.99). Method validation results met the criteria reported in the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Quercetin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and kaempferol were absorbed rapidly and reached the peak concentration between 0.16 and 0.25 h. This validated that the UHPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetic parameters of the six compounds in rat plasma after oral administration of MGZKTs. This evidence will be useful for the clinical rational use of Mang-Guo-Zhi-Ke tablets.

Brompheniramine and Chlorpheniramine Pharmacokinetics Following Single-Dose Oral Administration in Children Aged 2 to 17 Years.

Two pediatric studies characterized brompheniramine and chlorpheniramine pharmacokinetics in a total of 72 subjects, aged 2 to 17 years. A single age-/weight-based oral dose, ranging from 1 to 4 mg, was administered with 2 to 6 oz of water at least 2 hours after a light breakfast. Plasma samples were obtained before and for 72 hours after dosing and analyzed using high-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using noncompartmental methods; relationships with age were assessed using linear regression. Results indicated that for brompheniramine and chlorpheniramine, Cmax was similar across age groups, although it tended to occur earlier in the youngest group. AUC was ∼15% to 30% higher in the oldest age group. As expected, CLo and Vz /F increased with age; however, following allometric scaling, no age-related differences existed. Because the increase with age for both parameters was similar, no age-related differences in t1/2,z existed (∼15 hours). Overall, the single doses were well tolerated. Sedation was the most common reported AE and appeared to be more prevalent in the 2- to 5-year-old group. Overall, these results indicate that an age/weight dosing nomogram using a 4-fold range of doses achieves similar Cmax and AUC.

Development and validation of a sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous analysis of tramadol, dextromethorphan chlorpheniramine and their major metabolites in human plasma in forensic context: application to pharmacokinetics.

The prerequisites for forensic confirmatory analysis by LC/MS/MS with respect to European Union guidelines are chromatographic separation, a minimum number of two MS/MS transitions to obtain the required identification points and predefined thresholds for the variability of the relative intensities of the MS/MS transitions (MRM transitions) in samples and reference standards. In the present study, a fast, sensitive and robust method to quantify tramadol, chlorpheniramine, dextromethorphan and their major metabolites, O-desmethyltramadol, dsmethyl-chlorpheniramine and dextrophan, respectively, in human plasma using ibuprofen as internal standard (IS) is described. The analytes and the IS were extracted from plasma by a liquid-liquid extraction method using ethyl acetate-diethyl-ether (1:1). Extracted samples were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Chromatographic separation was performed by pumping the mobile phase containing acetonitrile, water and formic acid (89.2:11.7:0.1) for 2.0 min at a flow rate of 0.25 µL/min into a Hypersil-Gold C18 column, 20 × 2.0 mm (1.9 µm) from Thermoscientific, New York, USA. The calibration curve was linear for the six analytes. The intraday precision (RSD) and accuracy (RE) of the method were 3-9.8 and -1.7-4.5%, respectively. The analytical procedure herein described was used to assess the pharmacokinetics of the analytes in 24 healthy volunteers after a single oral dose containing 50 mg of tramadol hydrochloride, 3 mg chlorpheniramine maleate and 15 mg of dextromethorphan hydrobromide.

Simultaneous quantitative analysis of dextromethorphan, dextrorphan and chlorphenamine in human plasma by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and accurate HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the simultaneous determination of dextromethorphan, dextrorphan and chlorphenamine in human plasma. Three analytes were extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate and separated on a Kromasil 60-5CN column (3 µm, 2.1 × 150 mm) with mobile phase of acetonitrile-water (containing 0.1% formic acid; 50:50, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Quantification was performed on a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode using positive electrospray ionization. The calibration curve was linear over the range of 0.01-5 ng/mL for dextromethorphan, 0.02-5 ng/mL for dextrorphan and 0.025-20 ng/mL for chlorphenamine. The lower limits of quantification for dextromethorphan, dextrorphan and chlorphenamine were 0.01, 0.02 and 0.025 ng/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 11% and accuracies were in the range of 92.9-102.5%. All analytes were proved to be stable during sample storage, preparation and analytic procedures. This method was first applied to the pharmacokinetic study in healthy Chinese volunteers after a single oral dose of the formulation containing dextromethorphan hydrobromide (18 mg) and chlorpheniramine malaeate (8 mg).

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of d-chlorpheniramine following intravenous and oral administration in healthy Thoroughbred horses.

The pharmacokinetics of d-chlorpheniramine (CPM), a histamine H1-receptor antagonist, and its ability to inhibit of histamine-induced cutaneous wheal formation, were studied in healthy Thoroughbred horses (n=5). Following an intravenous (IV) dose of 0.5mg/kg bodyweight (BW), plasma drug disposition was very rapid, with the mean terminal half-life and total body clearance calculated as 2.7h and 0.7 L/h/kg, respectively. The observed maximal inhibition of wheal formation following IV doses of 0.1 and 0.5mg/kg BW were 37.8% and 60.6% at 0.5h, respectively. Oral administration of CPM (0.5mg/kg BW) resulted in a bioavailability of 38%, which induced a peak plasma drug concentration at 1h and a maximal inhibition of wheal formation (39%) at 2h. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic link model showed that CPM in horses has lower efficacy, much lower potency and slightly lower sensitivity than other reported antihistamines. These results indicated that CPM should be administered at frequent intervals or at large dose rates to maintain therapeutic concentrations in horses.

Enhancement of B cell and monocyte populations in rats exposed to chlorpheniramine.

Chlorpheniramine is an anti-histamine agent on IgE-mediated inflammation. In order to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of chlorpheniramine, we assessed the changes of peripheral mononuclear cell populations and other general clinical parameters, including hematology and clinical chemistry, following chlorpheniramine administration in rats. Since prednisolone is commonly co-prescribed with anti-histamine in many hypersensitive reactions, we also examined the changes to compare the results after the prednisolone administration. Chlorpheniramine (50, 100 and 200 µg/kg) and prednisolone (1, 2 and 4 mg/kg) were intramuscularly administered to female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats 3 times, at intervals of 1 week. Except the clinical signs, such as stiffness and abnormal gait due to the local toxicity at injection sites, no other significant changes in body weights, urinalysis, and macroscopic examination were noted in the animals given chlorpheniramine. On the other hand, white blood cells, especially B cells and monocytes, showed a dose-dependent increase in the chlorpheniramine-treated animals; whereas, the numbers of both B and T cells (helper T and cytotoxic T, NKT cells) were decreased in the prednisolone-treated animals. Taken together, these results suggest that chloropheniramine administration enhances white blood cells in the peripheral blood, mostly due to increases of the B cells and monocytes, but no T cells and NK cells.

Simultaneous determination of chloropheniramine maleate and dextromethorphan hydrobromide in plasma sample by hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction and high performance liquid chromatography with the aid of chemometrics.

A simple and high sensitive technique based on three phase hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME), optimized by using a four-variable experimental design and response surface methodology was performed to evaluate dextromethorphan hydrobromide (DEX) and chloropheniramine maleate (CLP) simultaneously in human plasma. The influence of source phase pH, HCl concentration of acceptor phase, time and salt addition were investigated. Under the optimized conditions analytes were extracted in their neutral form, pH 12.5 and salt concentration 2% (w/v), through a supported liquid membrane (SLM) of hexadecane into the HCl 0.0005 mol L(-1) located inside the lumen of hollow fiber to be back extracted. The mass transfer of the analytes from the donor phase through the SLM into acceptor phase was driven by the pH gradient. Determination was accomplished by UV-high performance liquid chromatography with recoveries 92% and 84% for CLP and DEX, respectively. Linearity was obtained in the range of 0.01-1000 µg L(-1) (R(2)>0.994). The obtained enrichment factors (EFs) were 233-276 for DEX and CLP respectively and limits of detection were 0.003 µg L(-1) with RSDs below 6%. The method proposed acceptable values to determine CLP and DEX in plasma samples sensitively and accurately.

Immunoassay screening of diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) in urine and blood using a newly developed assay.

Diphenhydramine (DPH) is a common over the counter antihistamine that produces drowsiness and has the potential to cause driving under the influence of drugs-related accidents. To date there are no commercially available immunoassay screening kits for its detection in biological fluids such as urine and/or blood. We describe a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screen and report on its utility in the analysis of authentic specimens taken from volunteers. The assay is specific for detection of DPH and does not detect closely related antihistamines like brompheniramine, chlorpheniramine, and doxylamine. There is a varying amount of cross-reactivity seen with certain tricyclic compounds, due to similarities in side chain structure with DPH. Intra- and interday precision of the assay were determined to be less than 10%. The assay is highly sensitive and has a working range from 1 to 500 ng/mL for urine and 1 to 250 ng/mL for blood. The assay was further validated with authentic urine and blood specimens obtained from volunteers and coroner's laboratories.

Simultaneous determination of codeine, ephedrine, guaiphenesin and chlorpheniramine in beagle dog plasma using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometric detection: application to a bioequivalence study.

A rapid and sensitive method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous determination of codeine, ephedrine, guaiphenesin and chlorpheniramine in beagle dog plasma has been developed and validated. Following liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes were separated on a reversed-phase C(18) column (150 mm × 2.0 mm, 3 µm) using formic acid:10 mM ammonium acetate:methanol (0.2:62:38, v/v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min and analyzed by a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. The method was linear for all analytes over the following concentration (ng/mL) ranges: codeine 0.08-16; ephedrine 0.8-160; guaiphenesin 80-16,000; chlorpheniramine 0.2-40. Acceptable precision and accuracy were obtained for concentrations over the standard curve range. It is the first time that the validated HPLC-MS/MS method was successfully applied to a bioequivalence study in 6 healthy beagle dogs.

Investigation of endogenous blood plasma phospholipids, cholesterol and glycerides that contribute to matrix effects in bioanalysis by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Matrix effects caused by compounds endogenous to the biological sample are a primary challenge in quantitative LC/MS/MS bioanalysis. Many approaches have been developed to minimize matrix effects such as optimization of sample extraction procedures and use of isotopically labeled internal standards. Unexpected matrix components may still remain undetected, however, because of the selective mass transitions monitored during MS/MS analysis. Glycerophosphocholines are the major phospholipids in plasma that have been widely shown to cause significant matrix effects on electrospray ionization efficiencies for target analytes. The purpose of this work was to investigate potential matrix effects resulting from different endogenous lipid classes, including phospholipids, acylglycerols and cholesterols, in order to establish a library for the relative presence of these components in biological sample extracts obtained by commonly used sample preparation techniques. Thirteen compounds were selected which were representatives of eight phospholipids classes, mono, di, triacylglycerols, cholesterol and cholesterol esters. Post-column infusion experiments were carried out to compare relative ion suppression effects of these compounds. Chlorpheniramine and loratadine were selected as model test analytes. A Concentration Normalized Suppression Factor (%CNSF) was defined to allow comparison of ion suppression effects resulting from different endogenous lipids according to their typical concentrations in human plasma and erythrocytes. A simple LC/MS/MS method was developed to monitor these endogenous components in sample extracts and their extraction recoveries from a plasma pool were compared using protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, supported-liquid extraction, solid phase extraction and Hybrid SPE-precipitation methods. Endogenous lipid components other than GPChos, such as cholesterols and triacylglycerols, may result in significant matrix effects and should be monitored during method development. No single extraction procedure was efficient in removing all of the various lipid components. Use of the results presented here, along with a consideration of analyte chemical structure, the type of matrix and the type of sample preparation procedure, may help a bioanalytical scientist to better anticipate and minimize matrix effects in developing LC/MS/MS-based methods.

Peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence detection for the highly sensitive determination of fluorescence-labeled chlorpheniramine with Suzuki coupling reaction.

A sensitive and selective high performance liquid chromatography-peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of chlorpheniramine (CPA) and monodesmethyl chlorpheniramine (MDCPA) in human serum. The method combines fluorescent labeling with 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazole-2-yl)phenyl boronic acid using Suzuki coupling reaction with PO-CL detection. CPA and MDCPA were extracted from human serum by liquid-liquid extraction with n-hexane. Excess labeling reagent, which interfered with trace level determination of analytes, was removed by solid-phase extraction using a C18 cartridge. Separation of derivatives of both analytes was achieved isocratically on a silica column with a mixture of acetonitrile and 60 mM imidazole-HNO(3) buffer (pH 7.2; 85:15, v/v) containing 0.015% triethylamine. The proposed method exhibited a good linearity with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 for CPA and MDCPA within the concentration range of 0.5-100 ng/mL. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were 0.14 and 0.16 ng/mL for CPA and MDCPA, respectively. Using the proposed method, CPA could be selectively determined in human serum after oral administration.

Determination of chlorpheniramine in human plasma by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS: application to a dexchlorpheniramine comparative bioavailability study.

In the present study a fast, sensitive and robust validated method to quantify chlorpheniramine in human plasma using brompheniramine as internal standard (IS) is described. The analyte and the IS were extracted from plasma by LLE (diethyl ether-dichloromethane, 80:20, v/v) and analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Chromatographic separation was performed using a gradient of methanol from 35 to 90% with 2.5 mm NH(4)OH on a Gemini Phenomenex C(8) 5 microm column (50 x 4.6 mm i.d.) in 5.0 min/run. The method fitted to a linear calibration curve (0.05-10 ng/mL, R > 0.9991). The precision (%CV) and accuracy ranged, respectively: intra-batch from 1.5 to 6.8% and 99.1 to 106.6%, and inter-batch from 2.4 to 9.0%, and 99.9 to 103.1%. The validated bioanalytical procedure was used to assess the comparative bioavailability in healthy volunteers of two dexchlorpheniramine 2.0 mg tablet formulations (test dexchlorpheniramine, Eurofarma, and reference Celestamine, Schering-Plough). The study was conducted using an open, randomized, two-period crossover design with a 2 week washout interval. Since the 90% confidence interval for C(max) and AUC ratios were all within the 80-125% interval proposed by ANVISA and FDA, it was concluded that test and reference formulations are bioequivalent concerning the rate and the extent of absorption.

Simultaneous quantitation of paracetamol, caffeine, pseudoephedrine, chlorpheniramine and cloperastine in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid and sensitive method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the simultaneous quantitation of paracetamol, caffeine, pseudoephedrine, chlorpheniramine and cloperastine in human plasma has been developed and validated. After sample preparation by liquid-liquid extraction, the analytes and internal standard (diphenhydramine) were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC on a Venusil Mp-C(18) column (50mmx4.6mm, 5microm) using formic acid:10mM ammonium acetate:methanol (1:40:60, v/v/v) as mobile phase in a run time of 2.6min. Detection was carried out by electrospray positive ionization mass spectrometry in the multiple-reaction monitoring mode. The method was linear for all analytes over the following concentration (ng/ml) ranges: paracetamol 5.0-2000; caffeine 10-4000; pseudoephedrine 0.25-100; chlorpheniramine 0.05-20; cloperastine 0.10-40. Intra- and inter-day precisions (as relative standard deviation) were all < or =11.3% with accuracy (as relative error) of +/-5.0%. The method was successfully applied to a study of the pharmacokinetics of the five analytes after administration of a combination oral dose to healthy Chinese volunteers.

Combined dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine intoxication in impaired drivers.

Dextromethorphan is a nonprescription antitussive which has been gaining in popularity as an abused drug, because of the hallucinogenic, dissociative, and intoxicating effects it produces at high doses. This report describes a series of eight drivers arrested for driving under the influence of the combined effects of dextromethorphan and chlorpheniramine, and a further four drivers under the influence of dextromethorphan alone. In the combined dextromethorphan/chlorpheniramine cases, blood dextromethorphan concentrations ranged from 150 to 1220 ng/mL (n = 8; mean 676 ng/mL, median 670 ng/mL), and chlorpheniramine concentrations ranged from 70 to 270 ng/mL (n = 8; mean 200 ng/mL, median 180 ng/mL). The four cases without chlorpheniramine present had blood dextromethorphan concentrations between 190 and 1000 ng/mL (mean 570 ng/mL, median 545 ng/mL). Some drivers had therapeutic concentrations of other drugs present. Drivers generally displayed symptoms of central nervous system (CNS) depressant intoxication, and there was gross evidence of impairment in their driving, including weaving, leaving the lane of travel, failing to obey traffic signals, and involvement in collisions. Drug Recognition Expert opinions confirmed that the subjects were under the influence of a drug in the CNS-depressant category.

Rapid simultaneous determination of paracetamol, amantadine hydrochloride, caffeine and chlorpheniramine maleate in human plasma by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid, simple and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography with positive ion electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) was first developed and validated to simultaneously determine paracetamol (PAR, CAS 103-90-2), amantadine hydrochloride (ATH, CAS 665-66-7), caffeine (CAF, CAS 58-08-2) and chlorpheniramine maleate (CPM, CAS 113-92-8) in human plasma using tramadol hydrochloride (TMH, CAS 22204-88-2) as internal standard (IS). Following methanol-induced protein precipitation, the analytes were separated using a mobile phase comprised of methanol:water (0.5% formic acid) = 20:80 (v/v) on a commercially available column (150 mm x 2.1 mm I.D., 5 microm) and analyzed by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode with the precursor to product ion transitions m/z 152.3-->110.2 for PAR, 152.3-->135.3 for ATH, 195.1-->138.3 for CAF, 275.2-->230.3 for CPM and 264.2-->58.2 for TMH. The standard curves were linear (r2 > 0.99) over the concentration range of 0.2-20 microg/mL for PAR, 20-2000 ng/mL for ATH and CAF, 0.1-10 ng/mL for CPM and had good accuracy and precision, respectively. The within- and between-batch precisions were less than 15% in terms of relative standard deviation (RSD). The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) were 0.2 microg/mL, 20 ng/mL, 20 ng/mL and 0.1 ng/mL for PAR, ATH, CAF and CPM, respectively. The described method has been successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of paracetamol-amantadine hydrochloride tablets in Chinese healthy male volunteers with great precision and sensitivity.

Monitoring phospholipids for assessment of ion enhancement and ion suppression in ESI and APCI LC/MS/MS for chlorpheniramine in human plasma and the importance of multiple source matrix effect evaluations.

Biological matrix effects are a source of significant errors in both electrospray (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) LC/MS. Glycerophosphocholines (GPChos) and 2-lyso-glycerophosphocholines (2-lyso GPChos) are known to fragment to form ions at m/z 184 and m/z 104, respectively. Phospholipids were used as markers to evaluate matrix effects resulting in both ion suppression and enhancement using ESI and APCI modes in the determination of chlorpheniramine in human plasma. Results revealed that GPChos and 2-lyso GPChos demonstrated very low ionization efficiency in the APCI mode, post-column infusion experiments were performed to confirm that suppression and enhancement matrix ionization effects coincided with the elution profiles of the phospholipids. The mean matrix effect for chlorpheniramine using APCI was 75% less than the mean matrix effect in ESI, making APCI the ionization method of choice initially even though the absolute response was lower than in the ESI mode. The resulting APCI method showed acceptable results according to the FDA guidelines; however, a multiple source relative matrix effects study demonstrated variability. It was concluded that an absolute matrix effects study in one source of biological fluid may be not sufficient to ensure the validity of the method in various sources of matrix. In order to obviate the multiple matrix source variability, we employed an isotopically labeled internal standard for quantification of chlorpheniramine in the ESI mode. An additional validation was completed with the use of chlorpheniramine-d(6) as the internal standard. This method met all acceptance criteria according to the FDA guidelines, and the relative matrix affects study was successful.