Simultaneous determination of ten nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from drinking water, surface water and wastewater using micro UHPLC-MS/MS with on-line SPE system.

A simple, accurate and sensitive micro UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 10 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) from different environmental matrices. The micro LC ‒ on-line SPE method described in this study allowed to determine the selected drugs at ultra-trace levels without the most commonly used complex off-line SPE sample preparation procedures. The presented method is capable of reaching satisfactory low LOQ values with analysing the sample directly after being diluted with water. In order to attain high sensitivity, mass spectrometry was carefully optimized for the analysis of the drugs. Fenoprofen, flurbiprofen and naproxen were found to produce CO2 loss during ionization, forming intense [M-H-CO2]- ions instead of [M-H]-. All the other compounds were analyzed through their [M+H]+ and [M-H]- ions. Effect of mobile phase pH on ionization was also studied. Lower pH resulted in higher ion intensities. For this reason, a reversed phase chromatographic separation was applied at pH 3.1 with formic acid at concentration of 0.01%. Matrix effects have been evaluated during validation and sample dilution was optimized focusing on the lowest achievable LOQ values. Analytes were determined from drinking water directly, from surface water and wastewater following dilution with purified water by 2 : 8 (v/v) and 1 : 9 (v/v), respectively. Finally, the method was applied to real sample analysis.

Simultaneous determination of thirteen different steroid hormones using micro UHPLC-MS/MS with on-line SPE system.

Ultratrace analysis of sample components requires excellent analytical performance in terms of limits of quantitation (LOQ). Micro UHPLC coupled to sensitive tandem mass spectrometry provides state of the art solution for such analytical problems. Using on-line SPE with column switching on a micro UHPLC-MS/MS system allowed to decrease LOQ without any complex sample preparation protocol. The presented method is capable of reaching satisfactory low LOQ values for analysis of thirteen different steroid molecules from human plasma without the most commonly used off-line SPE or compound derivatization. Steroids were determined by using two simple sample preparation methods, based on lower and higher plasma steroid concentrations. In the first method, higher analyte concentrations were directly determined after protein precipitation with methanol. The organic phase obtained from the precipitation was diluted with water and directly injected into the LC-MS system. In the second method, low steroid levels were determined by concentrating the organic phase after steroid extraction. In this case, analytes were extracted with ethyl acetate and reconstituted in 90/10 water/acetonitrile following evaporation to dryness. This step provided much lower LOQs, outperforming previously published values. The method has been validated and subsequently applied to clinical laboratory measurement.

Charged derivatization and on-line solid phase extraction to measure extremely low cortisol and cortisone levels in human saliva with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The aim of this study was to develop a sensitive, reliable and high-throughput liquid chromatography - electrospray ionization - mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantitation of cortisol and cortisone in human saliva. Derivatization with 2-hydrazino-1-methylpyridine (HMP) was one of the most challenging aspects of the method development. The reagent was reacting with cortisol and cortisone at 60°C within 1h, giving mono- and bis-hydrazone derivatives. Investigation of derivatization reaction and sample preparation was detailed and discussed. Improvement of method sensitivity was achieved with charged derivatization and use of on-line solid phase extraction (on-line SPE). The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 5 and 10pg/ml for cortisol and cortisone, respectively. The developed method was subsequently applied to clinical laboratory measurement of cortisol and cortisone in human saliva.

Pushing quantitation limits in micro UHPLC-MS/MS analysis of steroid hormones by sample dilution using high volume injection.

Ultratrace analysis of sample components requires excellent analytical performance in terms of limits of quantitation (LoQ). Micro UHPLC coupling with sensitive tandem mass spectrometry provides state of the art solutions for such analytical problems. Decreased column volume in micro LC limits the injectable sample volume. However, if analyte concentration is extremely low, it might be necessary to inject high sample volumes. This is particularly critical for strong sample solvents and weakly retained analytes, which are often the case when preparing biological samples (protein precipitation, sample extraction, etc.). In that case, high injection volumes may cause band broadening, peak distortion or even elution in dead volume. In this study, we evaluated possibilities of high volume injection onto microbore RP-LC columns, when sample solvent is diluted. The presented micro RP-LC-MS/MS method was optimized for the analysis of steroid hormones from human plasma after protein precipitation with organic solvents. A proper sample dilution procedure helps to increase the injection volume without compromising peak shapes. Finally, due to increased injection volume, the limit of quantitation can be decreased by a factor of 2-5, depending on the analytes and the experimental conditions.

Unexpected retention behavior of baicalin: Hydrophilic interaction like properties of a reversed-phase column.

The original aim of this study was to develop a method for the determination of baicalin from membrane vesicles. The unconventional chromatographic separation ("inverse gradient elution" on a reversed phase column) was due to a lucky chance, which is detailed and discussed in this study. The validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method is proved to be sensitive, rapid and selective. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Zorbax SB-C8 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, i.d.; 5 µm) with 0.1% formic acid in water and methanol by linear gradient elution. Quantification of baicalin was determined by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode using electrospray ionization (ESI). The calibration curve was linear (r = 0.9987) over the concentration range from 1 to 1000 nM. The coefficient of variation and relative error of baicalin for intra- and inter-assay at three quality control (QC) levels were 2.0-10.2% and -6.1 to 6.7%, respectively. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for baicalin was 1 nM (0.446 ng/ml), without preconcentration of the sample. This method was subsequently applied to vesicular transport assays of baicalin in membrane vesicles successfully. The developed method can open up new area of research in the chromatographic separation of flavonoids and their glucuronides.

Recovery of Proteins Affected by Mobile Phase Trifluoroacetic Acid Concentration in Reversed-Phase Chromatography.

It was found that recoveries of proteins depend on trifluoroacetic acid concentration in the mobile phase and showed maximum in the range of 0.01-0.1 v/v%. Transferrin and lysozyme were used to evaluate the recoveries of proteins from dedicated reversed-phase columns. Different types of reversed-phase columns were evaluated, such as core shell type materials (Aeris Widepore with C4, C8 and C18 modification) as well as fully porous hybrid particles (Waters BEH, modified with C4 and C18 alkyl chains). Recoveries ranged between 60.7-95.2% for transferrin and 72.1-99.8% for lysozyme. Based on the data presented, at least two different adsorption effects, the well-known hydrophobic and silanophilic/polar interaction might influence the recovery. In addition to this, conformational effects due to ion pairing with the acidic mobile phase additive might change them.