Quantitative determination of cyclosporine in human whole blood by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

Anal Sci. 2014;30(2):293-8. doi: 10.2116/analsci.30.293.

Abstract

Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressant drug used in organ transplants or for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. We developed and validated a simple, sensitive, and specific method using UPLC-MS/MS to determine cyclosporine levels in human whole blood. MS/MS detection was performed in the positive electrospray ionization mode with multiple reaction monitoring. Cyclosporine was extracted from whole-blood samples using ascomycin as an internal standard. The mass transitions m/z 1203.49 → 1185.53 and m/z 814.71 → 796.67 were used to assay the analyte and IS. This method was validated with respect to linearity, specificity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability. The method exhibited a linear response from 10 to 1000 ng mL(-1) with correlation coefficient values >0.99. The precision and the accuracy values were within 15%, except at the lower limit of quatification (LLOQ). Cyclosporine was stable in whole blood with no evidence of degradation. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of cyclosporine in healthy volunteers following oral administration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Analytic Sample Preparation Methods
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / methods*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage
  • Cyclosporine / blood*
  • Cyclosporine / isolation & purification
  • Cyclosporine / pharmacokinetics
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Cyclosporine