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What is Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)?

Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) is a method or technique used commonly for drug analysis, food analysis, and environmental testing. The advantage of LC-MS analysis is that it enables both high throughput and high sensitivity analysis of analytes. LC-MS assay is increasingly used for a variety of compounds leading to accelerated testing and development of drug candidates. Similarly, LC-MS analysis is one of the most commonly used techniques for conducting DMPK studies. Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry combines the physical separation and detection sensitivity capabilities of both platforms. In other words, the individual abilities of both the LC and MS techniques are synergistically enhanced by their tandem combination. LC-MS-MS test works so well because the Liquid Chromatography separates analyte from a complex matrix into distinct components, while the Mass Spectrometry provides the characterization and quantitation for the components with high accuracy. This technique works exceptionally well for the analysis of both synthesized inorganic compounds, as well as organic and biochemical compounds found in complex biological and environmental matrix.

LC-MS-MS Assay/Method Setup and Sample Analysis during Drug Discovery, Preclinical, and Clinical Phases

The LC-MS assay method is used during various stages of the drug development cycle. Most notably, it is used in the following phases:

Drug Discovery

Over the past couple of decades, high-performance liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) analysis has emerged as one the preferred analytical technique for new drug discovery assays.

Preclinical Toxicology

Studies range from early lead optimization to dose range finding studies followed by Tox studies. These studies involve primarily plasma and tissue samples of rodent and non-rodent species.

Typically, GLP toxicology studies are performed using fully validated LC-MS methods.  Theoretically, this could be accomplished using HPLC with UV and other detection methods like fluorescence, but these detection methods aren’t as selective and require extensive sample preparation. Use of MS detection in multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) is quite selective, and therefore drugs can be analyzed in biological matrices with simple cleanup steps. Also, LC-MS assay can be developed relatively faster for a new drug and are generally very robust and reliable.

Clinical trials

These studies range from Phase 1 (dose escalation studies like single ascending and multiple ascending dose, healthy volunteer studies) to Phase III, Phase IV and post-marketing studies. Matrices involved in the analysis range from plasma, serum, blood, urine, feces, and tissues from different organs.

Over the last 10-15 years, the LC-MS-MS method has rapidly become the method of choice during clinical trials. At the early stages of clinical development, it is essential to analyze plasma samples from clinical trials for understanding ADME properties of the drug and ensuring data consistency with preclinical PK studies. Thus, LC-MS-MS methods are developed and validated for the drug analysis and testing in human biological fluids.

Here’s how the entire LC-MS assay works:

Liquid Chromatography

As the first step, the liquid chromatography is used to separate the proteins, nucleic acids, or other endogenous material in complex biological matrices. There are only minor differences between HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) setup with other detectors compared to how HPLC-MS is set up. Among other aspects, these differences include the column length and flow rate. Benefiting from the mass spectrometer, chromatography columns used in LC-MS-MS tests are much shorter than those used in standard HPLC. For example, the regular columns are about 100-300 mm long while those in the LC-MS method are only about 30-50 mm long. Consequentially, the flow rate for LC-MS is slower than the flow rate in the HPLC technique which is 1ml/min. Since the LC-MS combines the advantages of HPLC with mass spectrometry, it can be used for a wider variety of drug analysis as well as environmental testing and food analysis.

Mass Spectrometry

The instrument consists of three major components:

  • Ion Source: Produces gaseous ions from the substance being analyzed.
  • Analyzer: Resolves the ions into their mass components according to their mass-to-charge ratio.
  • Detector System: Detects the ions and record relative abundance of each of the resolved ionic species.

First step in the mass spectrometric analysis is the production of gas phase ions of the compound by electron ionization. The molecules that come out of the chromatography column are highly pressurized. Since the mass spec units operate in a vacuum, the continuous flow cannot be detected by the spectrometer. Therefore, the liquid eluted from the chromatography column must be passed through an interface before it can be transferred to the mass spectrometer. The most common interfaces are atmospheric pressure photo-ionization (APPI) systems, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) systems, and electrospray ionization (ESI) systems. The liquid that passes through the interface gets nebulized into a spray, after which it is ionized and transferred to the mass spectrometer.

The mass spectrometer measures the mass-to-charge ratio of the ions and then records the relative abundance of each ion type, producing a mass spectrum of the molecule. The equipment displays results in the form of a plot of ion abundance versus mass-to-charge ratio.

NorthEast BioLab LC-MS-MS analysis services

LC-MS analysis is now being used for a variety of tests – from drug development to food analysis to environmental testing. Here’s a list of main LC-MS-MS analysis services that NorthEast BioLab provides:

Drug, Metabolite, and Biomarker Analysis

LC-MS-MS analysis plays a critical role in drug and metabolite quantitation analysis, which is an integral part of the drug development process. We develop and validate LC-MS-MS methods in biological fluids including plasma, serum, blood, urine and other matrices for the analysis of drugs, metabolites, and biomarkers.

Discovery, Preclinical (GLP), and Clinical Trials (GCP) Sample Analysis

Biological matrix samples that undergo the LC-MS analysis are typically collected from the following studies:

  • Discovery and preclinical (GLP) animal studies:
    • Rodents – Rat, Mice
    • Non-Rodents – Rabbit, Dog, Pig, Goat, Sheep, Non-human primate (NHP)
  • Clinical Trial (GCP) samples from human volunteers

GLP/GCP Biological Matrix Sample Analysis

GLP/GCP compliant LC-MS analysis is conducted on biological matrix samples:

  • Plasma/Serum
  • Whole Blood
  • Dried Blood Spots
  • Translucent Matrices (Tears, Urine, Synovial, Cerebrospinal, Aqueous, etc.)
  • Tissues (Arterial, Lung, Kidney, Tumor, Tendon, Skin, etc

Clinical (GCP) Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Studies

Therapeutic Drug monitoring refers to the practice of measuring certain drugs at pre-defined intervals to evaluate the maintenance of a constant drug concentration within a patient’s bloodstream. This data collected over multiple timepoints helps optimize the dosage levels. Our GCP compliant therapeutic drug monitoring studies utilize LC-MS analysis to track drug levels.

Bioavailability / Bioequivalence Studies

Bioequivalence studies are performed when a formulation is changed to ensure that the expected in vivo biological equivalence of two preparations. Such studies are also required when a generic version of a drug is being developed and required approval from regulatory authorities. Bioavailability refers to the extent and rate to which a drug’s active ingredient is available at its site of action. LC-MS assay is one of the most suited techniques for drug quantitation related to bioavailability and bioequivalence studies.

Drug-drug interaction studies with validated multi-analyte methods

Validated multi-analyte LC-MS-MS methods are used to study the interaction between different drugs that often need to be used or prescribed together. These LC-MS studies ensure that there are no adverse reactions borne out of this interaction.

Enantiomeric / Chiral Separations

Chiral separation is the process for separating racemic compounds into their constituent enantiomers. Conventional LC-MS-MS analysis apparatus can be easily reprogrammed for Chiral separation.

Analyte stabilization techniques

Analyte stability is a crucial parameter in bioanalysis studies. We perform custom LC-MS tests at various time points per your protocol to report analyte stability.

Why Choose NorthEast BioLab for your Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry needs?

We use state-of-the-art techniques when it comes to method development and sample analysis. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry is one such technology that has become increasingly popular in recent years because it combines the capabilities of two different techniques in a very synergistic manner.

For LC-MS-MS bioanalysis, your partner needs to offer the right experience and expertise. Given how time-consuming and painstaking drug development process can be, you need a partner that’s willing to go that extra mile. At NorthEast BioLab, we combine 15+ years of experience in LC-MS-MS method development and validation with deep client empathy to offer a wide variety of drug discovery and development studies.

Finally, we whole-heartedly cooperate with you to accomplish our shared goals and accelerate your study timeline. Our team always keep the lines of communication open between our clients and frontline managers and lab staff. We bring together our core strengths- operational excellence, regulatory expertise, and scientific experience, to make sure your costs and resources are optimized.