Development and validation of a microfluidic chip-based nano-liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method for a sensitive and reliable quantification of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38) in mouse plasma.

There is an increasing need for more sensitive analytical methods in pharmacokinetic studies, for example, for phase 0 clinical trials. A novel HPLC Chip-triple quadrupole mass spectrometer method (HPLC Chip-MS/MS method) for the quantification of 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN38) was developed, validated, and employed to the pharmacokinetic analysis of SN38 in ICR mice. Protein precipitation with a ratio of plasma/acetonitrile of 1:10 was chosen as the sample processing method. The nano-electrospray inserted in the microfluidic chip operated in positive mode, and selected reaction monitoring was used for quantification. Our bioanalytical method met all essential validation parameters-selectivity, accuracy, precision, dilution integrity, calibration curve, matrix effect, recovery, and different stability tests (benchtop, freeze-thaw, autosampler stability). The calibration curves (weight 1/x (2)) were linear for the range 50-10,000 pg/mL. Clogging was not observed until the end of the lifetime of the microfluidic chip (350-400 injections), and carryover was practically eliminated through the introduction of a step gradient elution program. After intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 mg/kg irinotecan, SN38 concentration could be measured up to 6 h with accuracy and precision. Thus, we developed a new, very sensitive HPLC Chip-MS/MS method for the determination of plasma SN38 that has been validated in compliance with guidelines from different regulation authorities.