Analysis of hair and plasma samples for Methotrexate (MTX) and metabolite using high ‐performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS) detection

AbstractMethotrexate (MTX), a folate antagonist, is the anchor drug used to treat several diseases. Therapeutic effects are attributed to intracellular levels of various methotrexate conjugates, that are present in the cell as polyglutamates (MTX ‐Glu). The present study was conducted to develop a new liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐ESI‐MS/MS)‐based assay to separately quantitate the MTX‐Glu in hair cells, red blood cells and serum using internal standards. Sample preparation consisted of extraction with an organic solution followed by solid‐phase extraction. The presented methodology was applied for the analysis of methotrexate and its polyglutamates in hair cells, red blood cells, and serum obtained from clinical patients. The developed LC‐ESI‐MS/MS method for the quantit ative measurement of MTX‐Glu was both sensitive and precise within the clinically relevant range. This method is possibly be superior with respect to sensitivity, selectivity and speed than all previously described approaches, and can be easily applied in routine clinical tests owing to the combin ation of a simple pretreatment process with robust LC‐MS/MS.
Source: Journal of Mass Spectrometry - Category: Chemistry Authors: Tags: SPECIAL ISSUE ‐ RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research