Sensitive CE-MS analysis of potentially genotoxic alkylation compounds using derivatization and electrokinetic injection.

A CE-MS method has been developed to detect trace levels of potentially genotoxic alkyl halides. After derivatization of the target components with 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) or butyl 1-(pyridinyl-4yl) piperidine 4-carboxylate (BPPC), the natively positively charged derivatives are pre-concentrated by applying electrokinetic injection and separated by a highly efficient CZE method using a background electrolyte (BGE) consisting of 100mM of TRIS adjusted to pH 2.5 with phosphoric acid. Using a sheath liquid interface, subsequent MS detection allows highly specific and sensitive analysis of alkyl halides. Conditions for electrokinetic injection were optimized to allow selective and effective injection. Injection of samples with low water content at 10 kV for 150 s using a high concentration of buffer in the BGE resulted in optimum sample stacking during injection and a highly efficient CE separation. At the sample pH applied, neutral and negatively charged components are shown to be selectively discarded, resulting in injection of positively charged ions only. The sample matrix influences the efficiency of the injection, but when using an internal standard, reproducibilities better than 10% RSD are obtained. Relative recoveries of the derivatives spiked to different types of model API between 85 and 115% demonstrate that the method can be applied for quantitative analysis. Detection limits of lower than 1 mg kg(-1) for the tested alkyl halides obtained in CE-MS at least equal the sensitivity obtained in LC-MS. The CE-MS method is a valuable alternative for the LC-MS method used for analysis of alkylation compounds.

A new derivatization reagent for LC-MS/MS screening of potential genotoxic alkylation compounds.

A screening method for trace analysis of potentially genotoxic alkylating compounds has been developed using butyl 1-(pyridin-4-yl) piperidine 4-carboxylate (BPPC) as a new, selective pre-column derivatization reagent for their subsequent analysis by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) hyphenated with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The new derivatization reagent is a modification of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (4-DMAP) previously used for the determination of potentially genotoxic compounds. By using the new reagent the screening potential was enhanced without compromising reactivity. Derivatization at a high pH value was carried out and the reaction time at 60°C was 24h to anticipate for alkyl chlorides showing to be less reactive. The new reagent was designed to obtain reagent related fragmentation of the whole reagent as well as a side group of the reagent. Collision energies for detection of alkylating components derivatized using the new reagent are shown to be significantly more universal than with 4-DMAP. Neutral loss scanning on the fragmentation related to the build in side group remedies shortcomings in the screening for alkyl halides observed when using 4-DMAP. The new approach allows for screening of alkyl halides and alkyl sulfonates at trace levels down to 1 mg kg(-1) and target analysis at about a factor of 10 lower without a significant effect of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) matrix. The synthesis of the reagent, investigation of reactivity, the specificity of the fragmentation of derivatives and screening conditions in MS/MS analysis are described.

A new approach for generic screening and quantitation of potential genotoxic alkylation compounds by pre-column derivatization and LC-MS/MS analysis.

A generic LC-MS/MS method was developed for the analysis of potentially genotoxic alkyl halides. A broad selection of alkyl halides were derivatized using 4-dimethylaminopyridine in acetonitrile. The reaction conditions for derivatization, i.e., solvent, reaction time, temperature and concentration of alkyl halide, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), and reagent, were optimized for sensitivity and robustness. The interference of the matrix and the API and the presence of water on the derivatization reaction were investigated for a model drug product (paracetamol/caffeine tablets). Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography was used to allow a quantitative determination of the derivatives by tandem mass spectrometry. The derivatization reaction was shown to be selective for alkyl halides, although some reactivity was also observed for an aromatic sulfonate, which is also genotoxic. Even though differences in reaction efficiencies have been observed, the enhanced sensitivity obtained by the derivatization allows the majority of the alkyl halides to be detected by MS/MS at relevant levels for genotoxic impurity evaluation, i.e., 10 mg kg(-1). Another key advantage is that for the majority of derivatives, reagent-related fragments are produced, which allows low-level screening for alkyl halides. Highly specific MS detection can be performed using neutral loss and precursor ion scan experiments. The applicability of a generic screening method will make the genotox evaluation less dependent on the quality of assessments based on predictions only, and it will provide essential information during the development of new chemical entities. In addition to screening, target analysis in the low milligrams per kilogram range can be performed. A similar response of the derivatized compounds was obtained in the range of 1-100 mg kg(-1) with a reproducibility better than 10%, which is sufficient for the determination of alkyl halides in APIs and drug products.

High throughput therapeutic drug monitoring of clozapine and metabolites in serum by on-line coupling of solid phase extraction with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The characteristics of automated on-line solid phase extraction with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPE-LC-MS) are very amenable for flexibility and throughput in therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). We demonstrate this concept of automated, on-line SPE-LC-MS for the analysis of clozapine and metabolites (desmethylclozapine and clozapine-N-oxide) in serum. Method development, optimisation and validation are described and a comparison with previously published methods for the determination of clozapine and metabolites in serum and plasma is made. Optimisation of chromatographic and SPE conditions for increased throughput resulted in SPE-LC-MS cycle times of only about 2.2 min, demonstrating the great potential of automated on-line SPE-LC-MS for TDM. The new method is shown to be clearly favourable, in particular in terms of ease of sample handling, throughput and detection limits. Recovery is essentially quantitative. Detection limits are at about 0.15-0.3 ng ml(-1), depending on the ionisation source used. Calibration follows a quadratic model for clozapine and its N-oxide and a linear model for the desmethyl metabolite (all cases: R > 0.99). Accuracy, evaluated at three concentration levels spanning the whole therapeutic range, shows that bias is less than 10%. Precision (intra - and inter assay) ranges from about 5% R.S.D. at the high end of the therapeutic range (700-1,000 ng ml(-1)) to about 20% R.S.D. (OECD defined limit) at the lower limit of quantitation ( approximately 50 ng ml(-1)). The lower limit of quantitation is well below the low end of the therapeutic range at 350 ng ml(-1).

On-line coupling of solid-phase extraction with mass spectrometry for the analysis of biological samples. III. Determination of prednisolone in serum.

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was directly coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) to assess the feasibility of the system for the rapid determination of prednisolone in serum. A C(18) stationary phase allowed washing of the cartridge with 25% methanol. Elution was performed by switching the methanol percentage from 25% in the washing step to 50% during elution. The high flow-rates during the extraction (5.0 ml/min) combined with ion-trap MS detection resulted in a total analysis time of 4 min. Some tailing of the prednisolone peak was observed. However, the tailing was found acceptable, since by this elution procedure most matrix compounds were prevented from eluting from the cartridge. Some matrix interference was still observed with a triple-quadrupole MS, even in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. This resulted in a detection limit (LOD) of about 10 ng/ml. The matrix interference and the LOD were similar for atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation and atmospheric pressure photo ionisation. Applying an ion-trap MS in the MS-MS mode resulted in cleaner chromatograms. Due to extensive fragmentation of prednisolone, the LOD was not lower than about 5 ng/ml prednisolone in serum, and a limit of quantitation of about 10 ng/ml (relative standard deviation <15%) was observed.

Ion suppression in the determination of clenbuterol in urine by solid-phase extraction atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation ion-trap mass spectrometry.

Ion suppression effects were observed during the determination of clenbuterol in urine with solid-phase extraction/multiple-stage ion-trap mass spectrometry (SPE/MS(3)), despite the use of atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation. During SPE, a polymeric stationary phase (polydivinylbenzene) was applied. Post-cartridge infusion of analyte to the SPE eluate after the extraction of blank urine was performed to obtain a profile of the suppression. Single and multiple-stage MS were performed to provide insight in the suppressing compounds. The ion suppression was mainly ascribed to two m/z values, but still no identification of the compounds was achieved from the multiple-stage MS data. No ionisable and non-ionisable complexes and/or precipitation of clenbuterol with matrix compounds were observed. A concentration dependence of the percentage of suppression was observed. Up to 70% of the signal was suppressed upon post-cartridge infusion of 0.22 microg/mL (at 5 microL/min) clenbuterol into the eluate, and this decreased to about 4% at infusion of 22 microg/mL clenbuterol. Molecularly imprinted polymers were used to enhance the selectivity of the extraction. Although matrix components were still present after extraction, no interference of these compounds with the analyte was observed. However, the bleeding of the imprint from the polymer (brombuterol) caused significant ion suppression.

Non-equilibrium solid-phase microextraction coupled directly to ion-trap mass spectrometry for rapid analysis of biological samples.

To determine sub-ppb levels of drugs in biological samples, selective, sensitive and rapid analytical techniques are required. This work shows the possibilities for high-throughput analysis of solid-phase microextraction (SPME) directly coupled to an ion-trap mass spectrometer equipped with an atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation source. As no chromatographic separation is performed, the SPME procedure is the time-limiting step. Direct immersion SPME under non-equilibrium conditions permits the determination of lidocaine in urine within 10 min. After a 5 min sorption time with a 100 microm polydimethylsiloxane-coated fibre, the extraction yield of lidocaine from urine is about 7%. When applying 4 min desorption, using a mixture of ammonium acetate buffer (pH 4.5) and acetonitrile (85 + 15 v/v), about 10% of the analyte is retained on the fibre. An extra cleaning step of the fibre is therefore used to prevent carry-over. By use of tandem MS, no matrix interference is observed. The detection limit for lidocaine is about 0.4 ng ml(-1) and the intraday and interday reproducibility are within 14% over a concentration range of 2-45 ng ml(1).