Importance of injection solution composition for LC-MS-MS methods.

For the first time, the influence of the injection solution composition on the quality of LC-MS-MS methods, in terms of column efficiency and peak shape, was systematically investigated. Various types of compounds, including polar ionic acidic, polar ionic basic and non-polar neutral compounds, were prepared in different solutions ranging from 100% water to 100% acetonitrile. Different volumes of these solutions were injected onto either C18 or silica columns connected to tandem mass spectrometry. The mobile phases consisted of acetonitrile, water, and small amounts of volatile acid or buffer. On silica columns, the influence of injection solution on the peak shape and column efficiency was straightforward. The sharpest peaks and the highest column efficiency were obtained with 100% acetonitrile as the injection solvent. On C18 columns, this type of influence was less clear due to the dual retention mechanism of the bonded phase and of the residual silanol groups. On C18 column, retention due to residual silanol groups was significant even with a mobile phase containing less than 50% acetonitrile. Poor peak shape was observed when the injection solution had a stronger eluting strength than mobile phase, particularly for early eluting peaks.

Novel liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric methods using silica columns and aqueous-organic mobile phases for quantitative analysis of polar ionic analytes in biological fluids.

Use of silica stationary phase and aqueous-organic mobile phases could significantly enhance LC-MS-MS method sensitivity. The LC conditions were compatible with MS detection. Analytes with basic functional groups were eluted with acidic mobile phases and detected by MS in the positive ion mode. Analytes with acid functional groups were eluted with mobile phases at neutral pH and detected by MS in the negative ion mode. Analytes poorly retained on reversed-phase columns showed good retention on silica columns. Compared with reversed-phase LC-MS-MS, 5-8-fold sensitivity increases were observed for basic polar ionic compounds when using silica columns and aqueous-organic mobile phase. Up to a 20-fold sensitivity increase was observed for acidic polar ionic compounds. Silica columns and aqueous-organic mobile phases were used for assaying nicotine, cotinine, and albuterol in biological fluids.

A highly automated 96-well solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of fentanyl in human plasma.

A high-throughput bioanalytical method based on automated sample transfer, automated solid phase extraction, and fast liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) analysis, has been developed for the determination of the analgesic fentanyl in human plasma. Samples were transferred into 96-well plates using an automated sample handling system. Automated solid phase extraction (SPE) was carried out using a 96-channel programmable liquid-handling workstation using a mixed-mode sorbent. The extracted samples were then dried down, reconstituted and injected onto a silica column using an aqueous/organic mobile phase with tandem mass spectrometric detection. The method has been validated over the concentration range 0.05-100 ng/mL fentanyl in human plasma, based on a 0.25-mL sample size. The assay is sensitive, specific and robust. More than 2000 samples have been analyzed using this method. The automation of the sample preparation steps not only increased the analysis throughput, but also facilitated the transfer of the method between different bioanalytical laboratories of the same organization.

Development and validation of a sensitive and robust LC-tandem MS method for the analysis of warfarin enantiomers in human plasma.

A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (LC-MS-MS) was developed and validated for measuring warfarin (WAR) enantiomers (R-WAR and S-WAR) in human EDTA plasma. Liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl ether was used to extract the analytes from the plasma. Baseline resolution of S- and R-WAR as well as the internal standard enantiomers (S- and R-p-ClWAR, S-IS and R-IS) was achieved on a beta-cyclodextrin column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-acetic acid-triethylamine (1000:3:2.5, v/v/v). The retention times are 6.9, 8.0, 7.0, and 7.9 min for S-WAR, R-WAR, S-IS and R-IS, respectively. The detection was by monitoring S- and R-WAR at m/z 307-->161 and S- and R-IS at m/z 341-->161 using (-) ESI. The standard curve range was 1-100 ng ml(-1) for both S- and R-WAR. The inter-day precision and accuracy of the quality control (QC) samples were <7.3% relative standard deviation (RSD) and <7.3% bias for S-WAR, and <6.5% RSD and <5.8% bias for R-WAR, respectively. Analyte stability during sample processing and storage were established. Method ruggedness was demonstrated by the reproducible performance from analysis of clinical samples.

Development and validation of a sensitive method for hydromorphone in human plasma by normal phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) was developed for the quantitation of hydromorphone (HYD), an opiate analgesic, in human plasma. A simple liquid-liquid extraction was used to extract the analyte and its deuterated internal standard (d3-HYD). Chromatographic separation of hydromorphone from its metabolite hydromorphone-3-glucuronide (H3G) was necessary because of the significant H3G fragmentation to HYD before Ql of the mass spectrometer, which could result in false detection as HYD in the multiple reaction mode (MRM). This separation was achieved using a 50 x 2 mm, I.D. silica column (5 microm) and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water formic acid (80:20:1, v/v/v). The method was validated in the concentration range 0.05-10 ng ml(-1) in plasma and met the acceptance criteria of industry guidelines for accuracy, precision, and stability.

Simultaneous assay of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in human plasma using normal-phase liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a silica column and an aqueous organic mobile phase.

Morphine (MOR) is an opioid analgesic used for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. MOR is extensively metabolized to morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G). A rapid and sensitive method that was able to reliably detect at least 0.5 ng/ml of MOR and 1.0 ng/ml of M6G was required to define their pharmacokinetic profiles. An LC-MS-MS method was developed in our laboratory to quantify all three analytes with the required sensitivity and a rapid turnaround time. A solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used to isolate MOR, M3G, M6G, and their corresponding deuterated internal standards from heparinized plasma. The extract was injected on a LC tandem mass spectrometer with a turbo ion-spray interface. Baseline chromatographic separation among MOR, M3G, and M6G peaks was achieved on a silica column with an aqueous organic mobile phase consisting of formic acid, water, and acetonitrile. The total chromatographic run time was 3 min per injection, with retention times of 1.5, 1.9 and 2.4 min for MOR, M6G, and M3G, respectively. Chromatographic separation of M3G and M6G from MOR was paramount in establishing the LC-MS-MS method selectivity because of fragmentation of M3G and M6G to MOR at the LC-MS interface. The standard curve range in plasma was 0.5-50 ng/ml for MOR, 1.0-100 ng/ml for M6G, and 10-1000 ng/ml for M3G. The inter-day precision and accuracy of the quality control (QC) samples were <7% relative standard deviation (RSD) and <6% relative error (R.E.) for MOR, <9% RSD and <5% R.E. for M6G, and <3% RSD and <6% R.E. for M3G. Analyte stability during sample processing and storage were established. Method ruggedness was demonstrated by the reproducible performance from multiple analysts using several LC-MS-MS systems to analyze over one thousand samples from clinical trials.

Stereospecific determinations of (+/- )-DU-124884 and its metabolites (+/- )-KC-9048 in human plasma by liquid chromatography.

(+)-DU-124884 is a 5-HT1-like receptor agonist under investigation for drug development. A sensitive, stereospecific LC method was developed for the analysis of (+)-DU-124884, its optical isomer (-)-DU-124884 and their N-dealkylated metabolites, (+/- )-KC-9048, in human plasma. A plasma sample was treated with triethylamine in methanol and the proteins were precipitated by acetonitrile. The supernatant was evaporated to dryness under nitrogen. The analytes and internal standard (acebutolol) formed diastereomers with (S)-(+)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethyl isocyanate immediately. The diastereomers formed were extracted into diethyl ether. They were completely resolved from each other and from matrix peaks on a Microsorb silica column with a mobile phase of methanol-chloroform-hexane (8:12:80, v/v/v) in a run time of 26 min. Detection was by fluorescence with excitation wavelength at 320 nm and emission wavelength at 440 nm. The linearity range is 0.1-200 ng ml-1 (r > 0.99). The limit of quantitation is 0.1 ng ml-1 and the detection limit is 0.02 ng ml-1 (signal-to-noise ratio = 3). The interday precision and accuracy of quality control samples were 5.5-7.6% RSD (relative standard deviation) and 0 to+4% bias for (+)-DU-124884, 5.5-7.9% RSD and 0 to +4% bias for (-)-DU-124884, 4.5-6.5% RSD and -7 to 0% bias for (+)-KC-9048 and 4.5-7.5% RSD and -7 to 0% bias for (-)-KC-9048. Consistent recovery from different lots of human plasma, parallelism of the method, stabilities of on-system, reinjection, bench-top, freeze-thaw cycles and sample storage were established.

Development and validation of column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic methods for the determination of a potent AII receptor antagonist, TCV-116, and its metabolites in human serum and urine.

Column-switching HPLC methods have been developed and validated for the determination of a new antihypertensive prodrug, TCV-116 (I), and its metabolites, CV-11974 (II) and CV-15959 (III), in human serum and urine. Initial sample cleanup was achieved by extracting the analytes into an organic solvent. After chromatographing on an ODS column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and an acidic phosphate buffer, the zone of the analyte's retention was heart-cut onto a second ODS column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and a phosphate buffer at a higher pH. Complete separation of the analytes and the endogenous peaks was accomplished by the two-dimensional chromatography. Good precision and linearity of the calibration standards, as well as the inter-day and intra-day precision and accuracy of quality control samples, were achieved. The limit of quantitation (LOQ), using 0.5 ml of serum, was 2 ng/ml for I, 0.8 ng/ml for II, and 0.5 ng/ml for III. The LOQ for urine sample was 10 ng/ml for II and III. Stability of the analytes during storage, extraction, and chromatography processes was established. The results illustrate the versatile application of column switching to method development of multiple analytes in various biological matrices. The methods have been successfully used for the analyses of I and its metabolites in thousands of clinical samples to provide pharmacokinetic data.

Assay and purity control of minocycline by thin-layer chromatography using UV and fluorescence densitometry--a comparison with liquid chromatography.

A thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method using UV and fluoresecence densitometry is described for the assay and purity control of minocycline (MC). With a mobile phase dichloromethane-methanol-water (57:35:8, v/v/v) and a silica gel thin-layer, previously sprayed with 10% m/v sodium edetate adjusted to pH 9.0, 4-epiminocycline and 7-didemethylminocycline were well separated from MC and from each other, 7-monodemethylminocycline and 6-deoxy-6-demethyltetracycline (6-DODMTC) were not separated from each other and were only partially separated from minocycline. 6-DODMTC was selectively determined by fluorescence densitometry, while quantification of other impurities and the assay of MC were performed by UV densitometry. Results obtained with qualitative TLC were compared with those obtained by a liquid chromatography (LC) method using a poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) copolymer stationary phase. The correlation coefficient for TLC and LC results was > 0.999. For TLC the relative standard deviation for the assay of MC at 1.25 mg ml-1 was < 3.0% (n = 4), while for LC it was < 1.0% (n = 4).

Development and validation of an LC method for the quantitation of carbenicillin in human serum.

An LC method for the quantitation of carbenicillin in human serum has been developed and validated. After protein precipitation with acetonitrile and evaporation, the residue was taken up by citric acid at pH 1.9. Carbenicillin and the internal standard (I.S.), piperacillin, were extracted with ethyl acetate, evaporated to dryness and reconstituted with a buffer solution. The separation of carbenicillin,, the I.S., and matrix peaks was achieved on a Microsorb C18, 3 microns column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-tetrabutylammonium-phosphate buffer (pH* 6.6). The detection was by UV at 208 nm. The run time was 8 min. The established linearity range was 0.25-20 microgram ml-1 (r2 > 0.99) with a limit of quantitation of 0.25 microgram ml-1. Interday precision (RSD) and bias over the entire range were 1.1-6.9% and -1.83 to +2.80%, respectively. The interday precision (RSD) and bias for the QC samples at 0.75, 3.0 and 12 micrograms ml-1 were 5.9-7.9% and -2.80 to +2.30%, respectively. Stabilities of on-system, bench top, freeze-thaw cycles and sample storage were established.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatographic method for the quantitation of ibuprofen enantiomers in human plasma.

A method for the quantitation of ibuprofen enantiomers in human plasma has been developed and validated. Separation of R- and S-ibuprofen was achieved on a silica-bonded beta-cyclodextrin column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.02% (v/v) triethylamine in water adjusted to pH 4.0 with glacial acetic acid in water (60:40, v/v). The UV detection was performed at 220 nm. The established linearity range was 1-25 micrograms ml-1 (r > 0.99). The limit of quantitation was designed as 1 microgram ml-1 for each enantiomer. Interday precision and accuracy for the standards were 2.2-5.9% relative standard deviation (RSD) and -2.9(-)+3.5% relative error for R-ibuprofen, and 1.9-6.3% RSD and -7.1(-)+4.4% relative error for S-ibuprofen. Interday precision and accuracy for quality controls at 2.5, 7.5 and 17.5 micrograms ml-1 were 6.1-6.4% RSD and -1.4(-)+0.8% relative error for R-ibuprofen, and 5.7-5.9% RSD and -1.2(-)+2.8% relative error for S-ibuprofen. p-Isopropylbenzoic acid was used as an internal standard. The run time was 26 min. Interference from various lots of human plasma were not observed. Stability results of on-system, re-injection, bench-top, freeze-thaw cycles and sample storage were established.

Development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitation of warfarin enantiomers in human plasma.

An HPLC method for the quantitation of warfarin enantiomers in human plasma has been developed and validated. Baseline separation of S- and R-warfarin was achieved on a silica-bonded beta-cyclodextrin column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-acetic acid-triethylamine (1000:3:2.5, v/v/v). The detection was performed at 320 nm. The established linearity range was 12.5-2500 ng ml-1 (r > 0.99). The limit of quantitation was 12.5 ng ml-1 for each enantiomer. Inter-day precision and accuracy of 12.5 ng ml-1 standards were 12.1% relative standard deviation (RSD) and +0.67% bias for S-warfarin and 9.7% RSD and +10.8% bias for R-warfarin. The low quality control samples at 37.5 ng ml-1 showed 6.9% RSD and 0.0% bias for S-warfarin, 7.2% RSD and +0.5% bias for R-warfarin. S-Naproxen was used as internal standard. Potential metabolites of warfarin were well resolved from S- and R-warfarin, the internal standard (S-naproxen) and each other. The run time was 25 min. The silica-bonded beta-cyclodextrin column showed excellent stability; over 1000 samples were injected without significant loss of performance. The column variability test showed that the method can be applied on several batches of beta-cyclodextrin columns but not all the beta-cyclodextrin columns were suitable for this method.

Collaborative study of the analysis of chlortetracycline hydrochloride by liquid chromatography on polystyrene-divinylbenzene packing materials.

A previously established method for the analysis of chlortetracycline by liquid chromatography using polystyrene-divinylbenzene stationary phases was examined in a multicentre study involving four laboratories and a total of 12 columns. Three chlortetracycline hydrochloride samples were analysed. The main component and the impurities were determined. An analysis of variance, treating each column as a different laboratory, showed absence of consistent laboratory bias and presence of significant laboratory-sample interaction. Estimates for the repeatability and reproducibility of the method, expressed as relative standard deviations of the result of the determination of chlortetracycline hydrochloride, were calculated to be 0.7 and 1.2%, respectively. When the analysis of variance was performed using only the results obtained on the wide pore (1000 A) stationary phases, the laboratory-sample interaction strongly decreased. It is therefore proposed to use such materials for the analysis of chlortetracycline.

Isolation of doxycycline, 6-epidoxycycline and 2-acetyl-2- decarboxamidometacycline from commercial metacycline by preparative column liquid chromatography on silica gel.

Isolation of doxycycline, 6-epidoxycycline and 2-acetyl-2-decaboxamidometacycline from commercial metacycline was achieved by preparative column liquid chromatography on silica gel, previously impregnated with edetate (EDTA). Careful control of the pH of EDTA allowed fine tuning of the separation. The mobile phases were composed of dichloromethane, methanol and .1 mM EDTA at pH 9.0 or 6.0. Structures were confirmed with nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The presence of doxycycline and its 6-epimer in commercial metacycline has not previously been described. The presence of the 2-acetyl derivative was not surprising since analogous 2-acetyl derivatives have been identified in other tetracyclines.

Determination of metacycline and related substances by column liquid chromatography on poly(styrene-divinylbenzene).

Isocratic column liquid chromatography on poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) copolymer allowed complete separation of metacycline, 4-epimetacycline, oxytetracycline, doxycycline and 6-epidoxycycline. 2-Acetyl-2-decarboxamidometacycline was eluted on the tail of metacycline. The mobile phase was 2-methyl-2-propanol-0.2 M phosphate buffer (pH 9.0)-0.01 M sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (pH 9.0)-water (2.5:10:10:77.5, m/v/v/v). The flow-rate was 1.0 ml/min and detection was performed at 254 nm. Official standards were compared and a number of commercial bulk samples and specialties were analysed. 2-Acetyl-2 decarboxamidometacycline, 6-epidoxycycline and doxycycline were the main impurities, while 4-epimetacycline and oxytetracycline were minor impurities.

Assay and purity control of metacycline by thin-layer chromatography combined with UV and fluorescence densitometry--a comparison with liquid chromatography.

A thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method involving UV and fluorescence densitometry is described for the assay and purity control of metacycline. With a mobile phase dichloromethane-methanol-water (58:35:7, v/v/v) and a silica gel thin-layer, previously sprayed with 10% sodium edetate solution adjusted to pH 9.0, all the potential impurities of metacycline were well separated from the main component and from each other. Results obtained with UV densitometry (TLC-UV) and fluorescence densitometry (TLC-F) were compared with those obtained by a liquid chromatography (LC) method using a poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) stationary phase. The correlation coefficients (r) for TLC-UV and LC or TLC-F and LC were better than 0.9999. For TLC-UV the relative standard deviation (RSD) for the assay of the main component was less than 2%, for TLC-F less than 3.0% and for LC less than 1.0%.