Determination of Mycophenolic Acid (MPA) and Its Acyl and Phenol Glucuronide Metabolits Simultaneously in Human Plasma by a Simplified HPLC Method

Abstract

A simple HPLC method with ultraviolet detection for simultaneous determination of Mycophenolic acid (MPA), its phenol glucuronide metabolite (MPAG) and acyl‐MPAG (AcMPAG) in human plasma was established. The plasma samples were prepared with protein‐preciptaing reagent, and the supernatant was eluted on Zorbax column (250 mm×4.6 mm i.d, 5 µm) with 20 mmol/l NaH₂PO₄ buffer (pH 3.0, adjusted with 20% phosphoric acid) and methanol (45:55, v/v) at 304 nm. The column temperature was 45°C, and the flow rate was 1.2 ml/min. The assay was linear within the range of 0.2–50 µg/L for MPA (r=0.9997), 2.8–531 µg/L for MPAG (r=0.9999), and 0.3–24 µg/L for AcMPAG (r=0.9994). Mean absolute recovery of MPA and its metabolites and internal standard was >80%. The average recoveries of MPA, MPAG, and AcMPAG were 94.0–101.4, 98.4–101.9, and 96.1–104.2%, respectively. The RSD of within‐day and between‐day were all lower than 15%. The method described is sensitive, reproducible, and will be useful in TDM or pharmacokinetic studies of MPA.

Keywords:

• Mycophenolic acid (MPA)
• MPAG
• AcMPAG
• HPLC
• plasma concentration

Notes

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No 30500626).