Using the DPiMS-8060 Mass Spectrometer to Analyze Drugs in Plasma (2) - A Quantitative Analysis of Abirateron

Importance of the Topic

Reliable measurement of pharmaceutical compounds in plasma underpins drug development, therapeutic monitoring, and clinical research. Conventional LC/MS methods demand extensive sample cleanup to protect columns from matrix components, increasing analysis time and maintenance.

Study Objectives and Overview

This application note aims to apply a probe electrospray ionization (PESI) approach using the DPiMS-8060 mass spectrometer to quantify abiraterone in plasma with minimal pretreatment and rapid turnaround.

Methodology and Used Instrumentation

Samples underwent simple deproteinization by mixing 100 µL plasma with 100 µL ethanol, followed by centrifugation and direct analysis of the supernatant by PESI. Only picolitre volumes are ionized directly, eliminating the need for chromatography.

• Step 1: Add 100 µL ethanol to 100 µL plasma; vortex for 10 s.
• Step 2: Centrifuge at 10,000 g for 5 min; collect supernatant.
• Step 3: Load 10 µL on a specialized sample plate; perform PESI-MS analysis.

• Instrumentation: Shimadzu LCMS-8045 system with DPiMS-8060 PESI unit.

Main Results and Discussion

The PESI-MS method produced a calibration curve for abiraterone over 2–400 ng/mL with R2 = 0.9861. Repeatability (%RSD) across most concentration levels remained below 20%, meeting typical quantitative requirements. Total analysis time per sample, including pretreatment, was approximately 10 minutes.

Benefits and Practical Applications

Direct ionization bypasses column degradation and reduces maintenance burdens. Minimal sample handling minimizes matrix effects and contamination, enabling high-throughput quantitative assays suitable for clinical and research laboratories.

Future Trends and Applications

The demonstrated PESI approach can be extended to other pharmaceutical analytes in complex biological matrices, supporting rapid therapeutic drug monitoring and expanding to metabolite profiling. Integration with automated sampling platforms could further enhance throughput.

Conclusion

The DPiMS-8060 PESI method offers a fast, robust, and column-free workflow for quantifying abiraterone in plasma, achieving linearity, precision, and reduced analysis time. Its adaptability suggests broad utility in pharmacokinetic and clinical applications.