ARS | Publication request: State of the art mass spectrometric and chromatographic techniques for drug analysis

Submitted to: American Chemical Society Symposium Series
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: December 1, 2006
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: In recent years, mass spectrometric (MS) and chromatographic instrumentation and techniques have scored dramatic developments, resulting in the introduction of many useful tools for analysis of both small and large drug molecules. This article describes state of the art MS and chromatographic techniques that can be used in the analysis of drugs in various applications, including characterization of controlled-release drug delivery systems. In applications that require minimum sample preparation, direct MS detection of drug molecules can be performed using novel atmospheric pressure ionization techniques, such as desorption electrospray ionization or direct analysis in real time. Visual information about distribution of drugs in various materials or tissues can be obtained through imaging MS, mainly using secondary ion MS or matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization. In liquid and gas chromatography combined with MS (LC- and GC-MS), drug analysis can be speeded up using various fast chromatographic techniques that are becoming practical due to the introduction of modern LC, GC, and MS instruments.