[Determination of unknown impurities in cefotiam hexetil by HPLC-MS/MS].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To detect unknown impurities in raw drug material of cefotiam hexetil. METHODS: High performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was employed for the determination of impurities in cefotiam hexetil. Agilent SB-C18 column (150 mm x 2.1 mm i. d. , 3.5 microm particles) was used for chromatographic separations of cofotiam hexetil dissolved in deionized water, with mobile phase consisting of (A) 0.1% formic acid and (B) acetonitrile and timed gradient program T (min)/B (%) 0/3, 5/3, 15/20, 20/40, 30/60, 40/80. The flow rate was set at 0. 3 mL/min with DAD detector wavelength fixed at 254 nm. Electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion MRM mode. The source voltage was kept at 4 kV and cone voltage was 100 V with the mass range m/z 50-1000. Nitrogen was used as nebulizing gas and the nebulizer pressure was 40 psi. The drying gas temperature was 350 degrees C and the drying gas flow was 10 L/min. Results Unknown impurities of cefotiam hexetil were identified. Substance 1 was delta3-isomer of cefotiam hexetil. The structures of 3 other substances were also determined. CONCLUSION: The method is sensitive, rapid and credible for the analysis of cefotiam hexetil and its related impurities, which can be applied in quality control of cefotiam hexetil.