Development and validation of a selective and sensitive LC–MS/MS method for determination of cycloserine in human plasma: Application to bioequivalence study

A selective and sensitive liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) assay for the determination of cycloserine in human plasma is developed using niacin as internal standard (IS). The analyte and IS were extracted from 500 μL of human plasma via solid phase extraction on Waters Oasis MCX cartridges. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Peerless Basic C18 (100 mm × 4.6 mm, 3 μm) column under isocratic conditions. Detection of analyte and IS was done by tandem mass spectrometry, operating in positive ion and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) acquisition mode. The protonated precursor to product ion transitions monitored for cycloserine and niacin were at m/z 103.1 → 75.0 and 124.1 → 80.1 respectively. The method was fully validated for its selectivity, interference check, sensitivity, carryover check, linearity, precision and accuracy, reinjection reproducibility, recovery, matrix effect, ion suppression/enhancement, stability and dilution integrity. The limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantitation of the method were 0.0013 and 0.20 μg/mL respectively with a linear dynamic range of 0.20–30.00 μg/mL for cycloserine. The intra-batch and inter-batch precision (%CV) across six quality control levels was less than 8.0% for cycloserine. The method was successfully applied to a bioequivalence study of 250 mg cycloserine capsule formulation in 24 healthy Indian male subjects under fasting condition.