Identification of extractables by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry: A case study to understand...

The current study was undertaken to evaluate clinical-grade disposable syringes of various brands based on the identification of an extraneous impurity leaching out from the rubber gasket of the syringe during sample preparation for liquid chromatography method development. The syringes were evaluated using aqueous and organic solvents and their mixtures to understand susceptibility towards extractables. It was observed that the extraction propensity of different brands of syringes was varying in terms of number and levels of extractables. A total of eight extractables (including the extraneous impurity observed during method development) were identified from the syringe gaskets with the help of liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and/or infrared (IR) spectroscopy. To the best of authors' knowledge, four out of eight proposed extractables are not reported in the literature. A tentative pathway for the formation of the extractables was also proposed.