Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for quantitative estimation of polyethylene glycol 400 and its applications

A rapid sensitive and selective MRM based method for the determination of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG 400) in rat plasma was developed using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). PEG 400 and telmisartan (Internal standard) were extracted from rat plasma with acetonitrile and analysed on C18 column (Waters Xbridge, 50 × 4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) with the mobile phase (A – 0.1% formic acid in water; B – methanol). A generic gradient method with a short run time of 3.5 min was developed for the analysis of PEG 400. A total of nine oligomers were identified for PEG 400. The most abundant ions corresponding to PEG 400 oligomers at m/z 327, 371, 432, 476, 520, 564, 608, 652 and 696 with daughter ion at m/z 89 were selected for multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in electrospray mode of ionisation. Analyte peak area of the oligomers was summed up to calculate the plasma concentrations of total PEG 400. The standard curve was linear (0.9954) over the concentration range of 1.01–1013.40 μg/mL. The lower limit of quantitation for PEG 400 was 1.01 μg/mL using 50 μL plasma. The coefficient of variation and relative error for inter and intraassay at three QC levels were 2.31–13.34 and −7.99 to 0.37, respectively. The method was validated for various parameters such as extraction recovery, matrix effect, autosampler stability, benchtop stability, freeze thaw stability, long term stability and was proved to be consistent across three QC levels with overall %CV less than 15. The developed method was successfully applied to the absolute bioavailability study of PEG 400 in male Sprague Dawley rats. Plasma concentrations of PEG 400 was measured after administration through oral and intravenous routes in male Sprague Dawley rats at a dose of 3.38 g/kg. Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were characterised by performing the analysis using Phoenix Winnonlin software (v 6.3). PEG 400 has good oral bioavailability with mean absolute bioavailability of 47.23%. Plasma concentration profile/PK parameters of PEG 400 was established in both intravenous and oral routes, which helps to qualify the analytical batch of NCEs having spiky plasma concentration profiles/erratic results. Purity of the PEG 400 oligomers was estimated using ELSD detection. Differences in pharmacokinetics of oligomers was studied. It was found that with increase in molecular weight of the oligomer, a decrease in absolute bioavailability was observed.

► An MRM based bioanalytical method was developed for the quantitative estimation of PEG 400 in rat plasma.
► Developed methods applicability was proved by performing a rodent PK study and characterised the PK parameters of PEG 400.
► Formulation excipients can be analysed as qualifier in the analysis of NCEs to address the spiky profiles.
► Differences in pharmacokinetics of PEG 400 oligomers was established.