Hydrophilic interaction chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of tobramycin in human plasma and its application in a pharmacokinetic study

A fast, sensitive and specific hydrophilic interaction chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of tobramycin in human plasma. With sisomycin as internal standard, the analysis was carried out on a hilic column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm) using a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile: 5 mM ammonium acetate and 0.1% formic acid (60:40, v/v). The detection was performed by tandem spectrometry via electrospray ionization (ESI). Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 10.51-1051 ng/mL for tobramycin, with a lower limit of quantification of 10.51 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision (RSD) values were below 15% and accuracy (RE) was 1.3-5.7% at all QC levels. The method was applicable to the clinical study of the pharmacokinetics of tobramycin in healthy volunteers.