High-throughput quantification of drugs and their metabolites in biosamples by LC-MS/MS and CE-MS/MS: Possibilities and limitations

Off-line solid phase extraction with C18 disk plates and turbulent flow chromatography were evaluated versus on-line solid phase extraction using column-switching HPLC as sample preparation techniques for high-throughput analysis of pharmaceutical compounds and their metabolites by LC-MS/MS. Turbulent flow chromatography was found to be very straightforward in its applicaton, but the LOQs were more than fivefold higher compared with off-line or other on-line solid phase extraction methods. Solid phase extraction (SPE) on disk was found to be fast and sufficient efficient to minimize matrix effects and therefore an apprach to provide sensitive and reliable LC-MS/MS methods. Column-switching HPLC with microbore columns (0.5 mm i.d.) were used for fast analysis of a parent drug and four of its metabolites utilizing steep gradients in 1 minute. The application of CZE-MS/MS for bionalysis of pharamaceutical compounds is also discussed.