Identification of gentamicin impurities by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

An HPLC/MS/MS method was developed for identification of impurities in gentamicin. The HPLC was performed on a Synergy Hydro-RP column using 50 mM trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), pH 2 adjusted with ammonium solution and methanol as mobile phase. All impurities in gentamicin were separated from main gentamicin components. Atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) was used and product mass spectra of protonated molecules were acquired. Seventeen impurities were detected in gentamicin. Reference compounds: gentamicins: C2b, B, B1, G-418, sisomicin, garamine and gentamines: C1, C1a, C2, C2a were used for spectra interpretation and impurities identification. All MS/MS spectra were interpreted and fragmentation transitions for gentamicins and in general for aminoglycoside antibiotics (AG) were proposed. All impurities were identified. More than one isomere were proposed for three impurities.