Metabolism of 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline in rat using [14C]-radiolabelling,19F-NMR spectroscopy, HPLC-MS/MS, HPLC-ICPMS and HPLC-NMR

The metabolic fate of 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline was investigated in rat following intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration at 5 and 50 mg kg(-1) using a combination of HPLC-MS, HPLC-MS/MS, (19)F-NMR spectroscopy, HPLC-NMR spectroscopy and high-pressure liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICPMS) with (35)Cl and (34)S detection. The metabolism of 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline at both doses was rapid and extensive, to a large number of metabolites, with little unchanged compound excreted via the urine. Dosing at 5 mg kg(-1) with [(14)C]-labelled compound enabled the comparison of standard radioassay analysis methods with (19)F-NMR spectroscopy. (19)F-NMR resonances were only readily detectable in the 0-12 h post-dose samples. Dosing at 50 mg kg(-1) allowed the facile and specific detection and quantification of metabolites by (19)F-NMR spectroscopy. Metabolite profiling was also possible at this dose level using HPLC-ICPMS with (35)Cl-specific detection. The principal metabolites of 3-chloro-4-fluoroaniline were identified as 2-amino-4-chloro-5-fluorophenyl sulfate and 2-acetamido-4-chloro-5-fluorophenyl glucuronide. N-acetylation and hydroxylation followed by O-sulfation were the major metabolic transformations observed.

High-performance liquid chromatography linked to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the simultaneous detection and identification of metabolites of 2-bromo-4-trifluoromethyl

The use of HPLC coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight (oa-TOF) for the profiling, identification, and quantification of metabolites in rat urine following the administration of 2-bromo-4-trifluoromethylacetanilide is described. The metabolites present in the sample were separated by reversed-phase gradient chromatography with UV-diode array detection. The bulk of the eluent (90%) from the UV detector was directed to an ICPMS where bromine-containing metabolites were detected and quantified using ICPMS. The minor portion of the eluent (10%) was taken for oa-TOFMS for identification. By these means, the metabolites were identified as sulfate and glucuronide conjugates of a ring hydroxy-substituted metabolite, a N-sulfate, a N-hydroxylamine glucuronide, and N- and N-hydroxyglucuronides.

The potential of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection for high-performance liquid chromatography combined with accurate mass measurement of organic pharmaceutical compounds

Quantification of unknown components in pharmaceutical, metabolic and environmental samples is an important but difficult task. Most commonly used detectors (like UV, RI or MS) require standards of each analyte for accurate quantification. Even if the chemical structure or elemental composition is known, the response from these detectors is difficult to predict with any accuracy. In inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) compounds are atomised and ionised irrespective of the chemical structure(s) incorporating the element of interest. Liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LC/ICP-MS) has been shown to provide a generic detection for structurally non-correlated compounds with common elements like phosphorus and iodine. Detection of selected elements gives a better quantification of tested 'unknowns' than UV and organic mass spectrometric detection. It was shown that the ultrasonic nebuliser did not introduce any measurable dead volume and preserves the separation efficiency of the system. ICP-MS can be used in combination with many different mobile phases ranging from 0-100% organic modifier. The dynamic range was found to exceed 2.5 orders of magnitude. The application of LC/ICP-MS to pharmaceutical drugs and formulations has shown that impurities can be quantified below the 0.1 mol-% level.

High-performance liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS) for the analysis of xenobiotic metabolites in rat urine: application to the metabolites of 4-bromoaniline

The use of HPLC-ICP-MS for the profiling and quantification of the metabolites of 4-bromoaniline following reversed-phase gradient chromatography is demonstrated. In the 0-8 h post dose sample, which contained the highest concentrations of compound-related material, it was possible to detect at least 16 metabolites of the compound. The methodology described offers the possibility of obtaining metabolite profiles and quantification for drugs and other xenobiotics in biological fluids and excreta without the requirement for radiolabelled tracers.

Directly coupled liquid chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry for the identification of drug metabolites in urine: application to diclofenac using chlorine and sulfur detection

We report the application of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) linked to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometry (oa-TOFMS) for the identification of phase I and II urinary metabolites of diclofenac. The metabolites were separated by reversed-phase HPLC monitored with a UV diode array detector (UV-DAD) after which 90% of the eluent was directed to an ICPMS source, with the remainder going to an oa-TOF mass spectrometer. Compounds containing (35)Cl, (37)Cl and (32)S were detected specifically using ICPMS and identified by oa-TOFMS. The metabolites detected and identified in this way included glucuronic acid and sulfate conjugates, mono- and dihydroxylated and free diclofenac. In addition a previously unreported in vivo metabolite, an N-acetylcysteinyl conjugate of diclofenac, was also characterised. This is the first application of the combination of HPLC/UV-DAD/ICPMS/oa-TOFMS for the investigation of the metabolic fate of chlorinated xenobiotics by direct biofluid analysis.