Determination of lumefantrine in small-volume human plasma by LC–MS/MS: using a deuterated lumefantrine to overcome matrix effect and ionization saturation. (January 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Liusheng; Li, Xiaohua; Marzan, Florence; Lizak, Patricia S; Aweeka, Francesca T
• Is Part Of: Bioanalysis. Volume 4:Number 2(2012)
• Page Start: 157
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2012-01
• Subjects: Drugs -- Analysis -- Periodicals; 615.19005
• DOI: 10.4155/bio.11.303
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-6180

Abstract

Background: To support pediatric study, a method to determine lumefantrine (LF) with small sample volume is needed. Matrix effect (ME) is a daunting issue in LF quantification in human plasma with LC–MS/MS.Results: Here we report an LC–MS/MS method with a deuterated LF as the internal standard (IS). Plasma sample (25 µl) was acidified with 5% formic acid prior to extraction with ethyl acetate. The recovery was over 80%. The absolute ME was within the range of 100 ± 8% for both LF and the IS, but cumulative ME was observed via large variation of IS signal. The cumulative ME and ionization saturation were overcome with the co-eluting LF-D9 as the IS. The linear range of calibration curve was 50–20, 000 ng/ml.Conclusion: ME and ionization saturation was overcome with a deuterated IS. The method utilized a small sample volume, suitable for pediatric study with capillary tube blood collection method.