Determination of beraprost in human plasma by a high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

A simple, rapid, sensitive and specific liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for quantification of beraprost, a stable, orally active prostacyclin analogue with vasodilatory, antiplatelet and cytoprotective effects. The analyte and internal standard, indomethacin, were extracted by solid-phase extraction using OASIS HLB cartridge. The chromatographic separation was performed on a C18 column with a mobile of 0.1% formic acid–methanol (30:70, v/v). The highest daughter ion of deprotonated analyte was quantitated in negative ionization by multiple reactions monitoring with a mass spectrometer. The mass transitions m/z 397 > 269 and m/z 356 > 312 were used to measure beraprost and internal standard, respectively. The assay exhibited a linear range from 0.02 to 2 ng/mL for beraprost in human plasma. The lower limit of quantitation was 20 pg/mL with a relative standard deviation of less than 20%. The method was validated with respect to linearity, sensitivity, specificity, recovery, accuracy and precision. The validated method has been successfully used to analyze human plasma samples for application in pharmacokinetic study.