Determination of candesartan in human plasma with liquid chromatography - Tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A sensitive, specific and reproducible liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of candesartan in human plasma. Candesartan was separated from endogenous components present in plasma by solid-phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Gemini C18 analytical column using mobile phase acetonitrile-5 mM ammonium formate (90:10, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization in positive mode and selected reaction monitoring (SRM) was used for detection. The mass transitions m/z 441.3 > 263.1 and 445.5 > 267.1 were used to determine candesartan with candesartan-d4 as an internal standard. The developed method was validated in the concentration range of 1-400 ng/mL in human plasma. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) was 1 ng/mL. The method proved to be suitable for application in pharmacokinetic studies.