A Sensitive and Selective LC–MS/MS Method for Quantitation of Ivermectin in Human, Mouse and Monkey Plasma: Clinical Validation

Abstract

Aim: A sensitive and selective LC–MS/MS method was validated for quantitation of ivermectin (IVM) in plasma. Method: The IVM was extracted from plasma using solid-phase extraction with C-18 cartridges. Separation of analytes was achieved on an ACE C18 column with isocratic elution using 0.1% acetic acid and methanol: acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) as mobile phase. The IVM was quantitated using electrospray ionization operating in negative multiple reaction monitoring mode. Results: The MS/MS response was linear over the concentration range from 0.1–1000 ng/ml. The method for human plasma was validated as per US FDA guidelines. The LC–MS/MS method is sensitive, reproducible, has easy sample preparation and is suitable for IVM quantitation in clinical samples.

Keywords:

• abamectin
• ivermectin
• LC–MS/MS
• pharmacokinetics

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The work was supported in part by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and by the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Support Grant from the National Cancer Institute under award number P30 CA036727. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. C Edi received partial support from Case Western Reserve and support from the Wellcome Trust under the grant 110430/Z/15/Z. We also acknowledge the helpful discussions with RJ Classon at Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, MD, USA. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.