Louise Jank

Analytical quality assurance in veterinary drug residue analysis methods: Matrix effects determination and monitoring for sulfonamides analysis

In residue analysis of veterinary drugs in foodstuff, matrix effects are one of the most critical points. This work present a discuss considering approaches used to estimate, minimize and monitoring matrix effects in bioanalytical methods. Qualitative and quantitative methods for estimation of matrix effects such as post-column infusion, slopes ratios analysis, calibration curves (mathematical and statistical analysis) and control chart monitoring are discussed using real data. Matrix effects varying in a wide range depending of the analyte and the sample preparation method: pressurized liquid extraction for liver samples show matrix effects from 15.5 to 59.2% while a ultrasound-assisted extraction provide values from 21.7 to 64.3%. The matrix influence was also evaluated: for sulfamethazine analysis, losses of signal were varying from -37 to -96% for fish and eggs, respectively. Advantages and drawbacks are also discussed considering a workflow for matrix effects assessment proposed and applied to real data from sulfonamides residues analysis.

β-lactam antibiotics residues analysis in bovine milk by LC-ESI-MS/MS: a simple and fast liquid–liquid extraction method

This study presents the development and validation of a simple method for the detection and quantification of six β-lactam antibiotics residues (ceftiofur, penicillin G, penicillin V, oxacillin, cloxacillin and dicloxacillin) in bovine milk using a fast liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) for sample preparation, followed by liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). LLE consisted of the addition of acetonitrile to the sample, followed by addition of sodium chloride, centrifugation and direct injection of an aliquot into the LC-MS/MS system. Separation was performed in a C18 column, using acetonitrile and water, both with 0.1% of formic acid, as mobile phase. Method validation was performed according to the criteria of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Limits of detection ranged from 0.4 (penicillin G and penicillin V) to 10.0 ng ml−1 (ceftiofur), and linearity was achieved. The decision limit (CCα), detection capability (CCβ), accuracy, inter- and intra-day repeatability of the method are reported.

High-throughput method for macrolides and lincosamides antibiotics residues analysis in milk and muscle using a simple liquid-liquid extraction technique and liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC-MS/MS).

A fast and simple method for residue analysis of the antibiotics classes of macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin, tylosin, tilmicosin and spiramycin) and lincosamides (lincomycin and clindamycin) was developed and validated for cattle, swine and chicken muscle and for bovine milk. Sample preparation consists in a liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with acetonitrile, followed by liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry analysis (LC-ESI-MS/MS), without the need of any additional clean-up steps. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 column and a mobile phase composed by acidified acetonitrile and water. The method was fully validated according the criteria of the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Validation parameters such as limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity, accuracy, repeatability, specificity, reproducibility, decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were evaluated. All calculated values met the established criteria. Reproducibility values, expressed as coefficient of variation, were all lower than 19.1%. Recoveries range from 60% to 107%. Limits of detection were from 5 to 25 µg kg(-1).The present method is able to be applied in routine analysis, with adequate time of analysis, low cost and a simple sample preparation protocol.

Simultaneous determination of eight antibiotics from distinct classes in surface and wastewater samples by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

A reliable multiclass method has been developed and validated for the determination of eight antibiotics from distinct classes (sulfonamides, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, cephalosporins and dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors) in wastewater – influent and effluent – and surface water from Porto Alegre, Brazil. The pre-concentration and clean-up was conducted with a simple and fast protocol using solid-phase extraction allowing a 100-fold concentration factor. The proposed method was validated by using spiked blank wastewater samples in terms of linearity, repeatability, reproducibility, recovery, matrix effects and limits of detection and quantification. Recovery was obtained in the range of 66–149%. Method limit of quantification ranged between 1.6 and 61.7 ng L−1. Samples (n = 16) were taken from January to August 2011 in one wastewater treatment plant, which uses conventional biological treatment. Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim show higher concentration, ranging from >10 to <6500 ng L−1, whereas erythromycin presented the lower amount. Differences between influent and effluent profiles were discussed. Surface water samples (n = 8) were collected in Arroio Diluvio, in four sampling points, in February 2012. From the eight antibiotics analysed, five were detected: sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, azythromicyn, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin, in a concentration range of 376–572 ng L−1, 27–94 ng L−1, 24–40 ng L−1, 16–66ng L−1 and 30–54 ng L−1, respectively.

Characterization and estimation of sulfaquinoxaline metabolites in animal tissues using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) is a sulfonamide that is widely used in veterinary medicine, with a maximum residue limit (MRL) established for several food matrices. In Brazil, the MRL for liver and muscle is 100 μg kg−1 for equine, bovine, poultry and swine. This value includes not only free drug but also the sum of all metabolites. Several reports showed limitations for SQX residue analysis, especially when mass spectrometry methods were used. These limitations include poor recoveries and unacceptable accuracy responses. In this work a metabolite of SQX, present in liver and kidney samples, was identified. The structure proposed was a hydroxylated form of SQX, called SQX-OH, with an m/z of 317. SQX-OH is also produced in vitro in equine, swine and bovine liver samples. The influence of time, temperature, solvent and dehydration was evaluated in the formation of SQX-OH. Different degrees of hydroxylation were observed in matrices. The N4-acetyl derivates for both SQX and SQX-OH were also detected. In equines, the metabolism of SQX is complete. The mass spectrometry analysis of SQX-OH was determined in vitro using equine liver microsomal fraction. The characterization of this compound was performed using liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in tandem mode. The fragmentation profile of SQX-OH was seen to be similar to that of the sulfonamides group, producing two high abundant daughter ions: 317 > 156 and 317 > 108, common to most sulfonamides. The main conclusion of this work is that the residue analysis of SQX needs to consider the presence of the SQX-OH in order to give more realistic results, especially when using MRM transitions.

Determination of quinolones and fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and sulfonamides in bovine, swine and poultry liver using LC-MS/MS

Antibacterials are widely used in veterinary medicine. Residues of these drugs can remain in food of animal origin, including bovine liver. This paper describes a fast and simple analytical method for the determination of quinolones and fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and sulfonamides in bovine liver samples. Deuterated enrofloxacin, sulfapyridine and demeclocycline were used as internal standards. The homogenised liver samples were extracted with acidified acetonitrile. Steps of non-solid-phase extraction (SPE) clean-up and concentration were used in the presented method. The final extracts were analysed by sensitive and selective detection of all components in a single run using LC-MS/MS. Acceptable recoveries between 66% and 110% were obtained. Good linearity (r2) above 0.96, considering three different days, for all drugs was achieved in concentrations ranging from 0.0 to 2.0 × the maximum residue limit (MRL). Intraday precision with coefficient of variation (CV%) (n = 6) lower than 14.7% and inter-day precision lower than 18.8% in agreement with European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC were obtained in concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 MRL. Accuracy was between 86% and 110%. Limits of detection and quantitation, as well as decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ), were also evaluated. Graphical Abstract

High-throughput method for the determination of residues of β-lactam antibiotics in bovine milk by LC-MS/MS

This study describes the development and validation procedures for scope extension of a method for the determination of β-lactam antibiotic residues (ampicillin, amoxicillin, penicillin G, penicillin V, oxacillin, cloxacillin, dicloxacillin, nafcillin, ceftiofur, cefquinome, cefoperazone, cephapirine, cefalexin and cephalonium) in bovine milk. Sample preparation was performed by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) followed by two clean-up steps, including low temperature purification (LTP) and a solid phase dispersion clean-up. Extracts were analysed using a liquid chromatography-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry system (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Chromatographic separation was performed in a C18 column, using methanol and water (both with 0.1% of formic acid) as mobile phase. Method validation was performed according to the criteria of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Main validation parameters such as linearity, limit of detection, decision limit (CCα), detection capability (CCβ), accuracy, and repeatability were determined and were shown to be adequate. The method was applied to real samples (more than 250) and two milk samples had levels above maximum residues limits (MRLs) for cloxacillin – CLX and cefapirin – CFAP. Graphical Abstract

Identification of transformation products of rosuvastatin in water during ZnO photocatalytic degradation through the use of associated LC-QTOF-MS to computational chemistry.

Rosuvastatin (RST), a synthetic statin, is a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, with a number of pleiotropic properties, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidation and cardiac remodelling attenuation. According to IMS Health, rosuvastatin was the third best-selling drug in the United States in 2012. RST was recently found in European effluent samples at a detection frequency of 36%. In this study, we evaluate the identification process of major transformation products (TPs) of RST generated during the heterogeneous photocatalysis process with ZnO. The degradation of the parent molecule and the identification of the main TPs were studied in demineralised water. The TPs were monitored and identified by liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS). Ten TPs were tentatively identified and some of them originated from the hydroxylation suffered by the aromatic ring during the initial stages of the process. Structural elucidation of some of the most abundant or persistent TPs was evaluated by computational analysis, which demonstrated that this approach can be used as a tool to help the elucidation of structures of unknown molecules. The analysis of the parameters obtained from ab initio calculations for different isomers showed the most stable structures and, consequently, the most likely to be found.

An LC–ESI–MS/MS method for residues of fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and trimethoprim in feedingstuffs: validation and surveillance

ABSTRACT An increasing concern about food safety has been observed over the years. The presence of drugs residues in food is one of the major subjects of research in food safety. Feedingstuffs can be responsible for carryover into the food chain of residues of several drugs. This paper describes the development, validation and application of a fast and simple method for analysis of 24 antibiotic residues in feedingstuffs for cattle, pigs and poultry. Analytes include compounds from different antimicrobials classes, such as sulfonamides (sulfadiazine, sulfamethazine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfachlorpyridazine, sulfadoxine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfizoxazole, sulfamerazine and sulfathiazole), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, danofloxacin, difloxacin, sarafloxacin, flumequine, nalidixic acid and oxolinic acid), tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline) and trimethoprim. Samples were extracted with methanol:water (70:30) 0.1% formic acid, followed by clean-up steps using centrifugation, low-temperature purification (LTP) and ultracentrifugation. Instrumental analysis was performed using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Chromatographic separation was achieved using a C18 column and a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water, both with 0.1% formic acid. Validation parameters such as limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were determined and meet the adopted criteria. LOD and LOQ were set to 30 and 75 µg kg−1, respectively. Inter-day precision were in the range from 4.0 to 11.1%, and linearity provides values of r2 above 0.95 for all analytes. The optimised method was applied to the analysis of more than 1500 real samples within the period 2012–2017. Non-compliant results were discussed and classified in terms of analytes, feed types and target species. Multivariate analysis of the data was performed using principal component analysis. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Photodegradation kinetics of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate and structure elucidation of its degradation products by LC-ESI-QTOF

Herein, we investigate the photodegradation of lisdexamfetamine (LDX) in an aqueous solution. The experiment is carried out by exposing the drug in solution to UV radiation for different periods of time during 48 h. The fragmentation pattern of LDX is established, and its two degradation products are identified (DP-01 and DP-02) and structurally characterized via liquid chromatography coupled with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight electrospray ionization (LC-ESI-QTOF) mass spectrometry. Furthermore, the photodegradation kinetics of LDX is determined via LC-ESI-QTOF (r = 0.9905; k = 0.0204 h−1; and t1/2 = 33.91 h) and RP-LC-CAD (r = 0.9960; k = 0.0234 h−1; and t1/2 = 29.67 h). LDX is found to be unstable in the presence of light under the evaluated conditions.