Determination of 42 glucocorticoids in infant eczema products by auto-solid phase extraction-ultra high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

A method was developed for the determination of 42 glucocorticoids in infant eczema products by auto-solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ASPE-UHPLC-MS/MS).The analytes were extracted by acetonitrile after dispersing in saturated sodium chloride solution.Macromolecules matrix were precipitated by adding potassium and zinc acetate, and then purified by HLB SPE column.The chromatographic separations were performed on a DIKMA EndeavorsilTM C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm).Acetonitrile and 0.1%(v/v) formic acid aqueous solution were used as the mobile phases.Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was operated in the positive mode using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning mode.The results were quantified by external standard method.The correlation coefficients of linear calibration curves were greater than 0.998 in the corresponding mass concentration ranges.The average recoveries at three spiked levels ranged from 78.7% to 101.5%, and the relative standard deviations (RSDs) were 2.0%-8.8%(n=6).The LODs (S/N ≥ 3) and LOQs were 0.002-0.031 mg/kg and 0.0007-0.103 mg/kg, respectively.The method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and reliable, and can be used for the detection of glucocorticoids in infant eczema products.