Sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of tacrolimus in minipig whole blood.

Tacrolimus, a potent immunosuppressant drug widely used systemically to reduce the risk of organ rejection in transplants, has been repositioned for topical treatment of atopic dermatitis. This work describes the optimization of a new method for the determination of tacrolimus in whole blood after topical administration. Sample treatment consisted of an automated procedure based on protein precipitation followed by solid-phase extraction.