Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Sample Preparation for Endopeptidomic Analysis in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid
10:23

Sample Preparation for Endopeptidomic Analysis in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid

Published on: December 4, 2017

9.4K

Development and validation of an UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of meropenem and its open-ring

XiangLong Chen1, Jinhui Xu1, Chengliang Wang1

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China.

Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
|February 4, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A new LC-MS/MS method accurately measures meropenem (MER) and its metabolite (ORM) in human serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This supports therapeutic drug monitoring for central nervous system (CNS) infections.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacokinetics
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Central nervous system (CNS) infections necessitate effective antibiotic concentrations at the infection site.
  • Meropenem (MER), a critical antibiotic, exhibits poor cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration and degrades into an inactive open-ring metabolite (ORM).
  • Accurate quantification of MER and ORM in biological matrices is essential for optimizing treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a simple, sensitive, and rapid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method.
  • To simultaneously determine meropenem (MER) and its inactive metabolite (ORM) concentrations in human serum and CSF.
  • To enable therapeutic drug monitoring for MER in patients with CNS infections.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a rapid LC-MS/MS assay utilizing an Agela Venusil MP C18 column.
  • Optimization of sample preparation using acetonitrile for protein precipitation and mobile phase.
  • Validation of the method according to the ICH M10 guideline for accuracy and precision.

Main Results:

  • Successful simultaneous determination of MER and ORM in human serum and CSF samples.
  • Demonstrated method sensitivity, simplicity, and speed for routine clinical application.
  • Reported, for the first time, open-ring metabolite (ORM) concentrations in human CSF.

Conclusions:

  • The validated LC-MS/MS method is a valuable tool for quantifying MER and ORM in serum and CSF.
  • This assay facilitates therapeutic drug monitoring of meropenem in patients with CNS infections.
  • The findings contribute to a better understanding of meropenem pharmacokinetics in the CNS.
Keywords:
Cerebrospinal fluidMeropenemOpen-ring metaboliteUPLC-MS/MS

More Related Videos

Optimized LC-MS/MS Method for the High-throughput Analysis of Clinical Samples of Ivacaftor, Its Major Metabolites, and Lumacaftor in Biological Fluids of Cystic Fibrosis Patients06:14

Optimized LC-MS/MS Method for the High-throughput Analysis of Clinical Samples of Ivacaftor, Its Major Metabolites, and Lumacaftor in Biological Fluids of Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Published on: October 15, 2017

8.8K
An Improved Method for Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Anesthetized Mice06:40

An Improved Method for Collection of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Anesthetized Mice

Published on: March 19, 2018

66.6K

Related Concept Videos

Cerebrospinal Fluid01:21

Cerebrospinal Fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a colorless liquid that flows around the brain and the spinal cord, playing a vital role in the protection, support, and overall function of the central nervous system (CNS). CSF production, circulation, and absorption are tightly regulated processes essential for the brain and spinal cord to function properly.
CSF Production
CSF is produced mainly in the choroid plexus, a network of capillaries and ependymal cells located within the ventricular system of the brain....
6.0K
Sampling Methods: Sample Types01:18

Sampling Methods: Sample Types

Sampling materials are classified into three main types: solid, liquid, and gas.
Solid samples include a variety of substances, such as sediments from water bodies, soil, metals, and biological tissues. Two standard methods for extracting sediments from water bodies are grab sampling and piston coring. Grab sampling involves using a device to collect a discrete sediment sample from the bottom of a water body with minimal disturbance. Grab samples do not always represent the entire area due to...
3.3K
Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells01:19

Clinical Applications of Epidermal Stem Cells

Epidermal stem cells (EpiSCs) are mainly located at the basal layer of the epidermis. These cells repair minor injuries of the skin and replace dead skin cells. However, EpiSCs’ cannot heal severe wounds such as major burns or those from diabetes or hereditary disorders. In such cases, culturing the epidermal stem cells from the patient is possible and has yielded successful treatment options, such as laboratory-grown skin grafts. These grafts are synthesized using a patient’s own...
3.3K
Reliability and Validity01:29

Reliability and Validity

Reliability and validity are two important considerations that must be made with any type of data collection. Reliability refers to the ability to consistently produce a given result. In the context of psychological research, this would mean that any instruments or tools used to collect data do so in consistent, reproducible ways.
14.0K
In Vitro Drug Release Testing: Overview, Development and Validation01:10

In Vitro Drug Release Testing: Overview, Development and Validation

In vitro dissolution and drug release tests assess how quickly and how much of a drug is released from its dosage form into an aqueous medium under standardized laboratory conditions. These tests are essential tools in pharmaceutical development and quality assurance, offering insight into the drug's performance before clinical use.During formulation development, dissolution testing identifies incomplete or inconsistent drug release issues. It also supports decisions on selecting the optimal...
350
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
1.5K