Use of the bromine isotope ratio in HPLC-ICP-MS and HPLC-ESI-MS analysis of a new drug in development

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2008 Apr;390(7):1717-29. doi: 10.1007/s00216-007-1761-6. Epub 2008 Jan 3.

Abstract

A combination of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was deployed for the metabolite profiling and metabolite identification of a new antituberculosis compound (R207910, also known as TMC207) that is currently in drug development. R207910 contains one bromine atom, allowing the detection by ICP-MS. Fluctuations in the Br sensitivity caused by the HPLC gradient were counteracted by the use of species-unspecific isotope dilution. In order to evaluate the method developed, the results obtained were compared with those acquired via radioactivity detection. HPLC-ESI-MS was used for the structural identification of R207910 and its metabolites. The (79)Br/(81)Br isotope ratio is also valuable in the search for metabolites in the complex background of endogenous compounds obtained using HPLC-ESI-MS analyses. Data-dependent scanning using isotope recognition with an ion trap mass spectrometer or processing of Q-Tof data provides HPLC-ICP-MS-like "bromatograms". The combination of accurate mass measurements and the fragmentation behavior in the MS(2) spectra obtained using the Q-Tof Ultima mass spectrometer or MS(n) spectra acquired using the LTQ-Orbitrap allowed structural characterization of the main metabolites of R207910 in methanolic dog and rat faeces extracts taken 0-24 h post-dose.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antitubercular Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antitubercular Agents / analysis*
  • Antitubercular Agents / metabolism
  • Bromine / chemistry*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods
  • Diarylquinolines
  • Dogs
  • Drug Design
  • Isotopes
  • Male
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Molecular Structure
  • Quinolines / administration & dosage
  • Quinolines / analysis*
  • Quinolines / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization / methods*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Diarylquinolines
  • Isotopes
  • Quinolines
  • bedaquiline
  • Bromine