Development and validation of a rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the determination of aripiprazole in human plasma: Application to a bioequivalence study

Summary A rapid, selective, and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay has been proposed for the determination of aripiprazole in human plasma. The analyte and propranolol as internal standard (IS) were extracted from 200 μL of human plasma via liquid-liquid extraction using methyl tert-butyl ether under alkaline conditions. The best chromatographic separation was achieved on an Aquasil C18 (100 × 2.1 mm, 5 μm) column using methanol-deionized water containing 2 mM ammonium trifluoroacetate and 0.02% formic acid (65:35, v/v) as the mobile phase 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 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, ruggedness, and dilution in...