LC-MS/MS Quantification of Tramadol and Gabapentin Utilizing Solid Phase Extraction

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Chemistry

Background:

• Quantitative analysis of tramadol (TMD) and gabapentin (GBP) in biological matrices is crucial for therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical studies.
• Existing methods may lack the required sensitivity, precision, or throughput for comprehensive pharmacokinetic analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a highly sensitive and precise analytical method for the simultaneous quantification of TMD and GBP in human plasma.
• To establish a robust assay suitable for application in diverse clinical settings and pharmacokinetic investigations.

Main Methods:

• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was employed for analyte detection.
• Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was utilized for sample preparation, followed by chromatographic separation on a Phenomenex PFP column.
• Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive polarity mode was used for sensitive and selective detection of TMD and GBP, with venlafaxine and pregabalin as internal standards (ISTDs).

Main Results:

• The method demonstrated excellent linearity over wide concentration ranges (1-500 ng/mL for TMD, 10-6000 ng/mL for GBP).
• Validation confirmed satisfactory specificity, sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, meeting stringent analytical requirements.
• The rapid total analytical run time of 3.8 minutes enhances sample throughput.

Conclusions:

• The developed HPLC-MS/MS method provides an accurate, sensitive, and precise tool for quantifying TMD and GBP in human plasma.
• This validated assay is readily applicable for researchers and clinicians involved in studies requiring reliable drug concentration measurements.