Objective: To establish a simple and rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry( UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of paraquat in serum, and to apply to the toxicokinetics of paraquat in rats.
Methods: The samples separated on ACQUITY UPLC BEH HILIC column( 2. 1 mm × 50 mm, 1. 7 μm)with acetonitrile-50 mmol/L ammonium formate( 0. 4% formic acid) as mobile phase. The analytes were analyzed using ESI operating in the positive multiple reaction monitoring( MRM) mode. The method was used in toxicokinetic study in poisoned rat. Toxicokinetic parameters were calculated by WinNonlin 7. 0 statistical software.
Results: Paraquat was linear in the range of 0. 3-1000. 0 μg/L, the recovery rate was 89. 0%-107. 7%, and the relative standard deviation( RSD) 1. 9%-13. 8%( n = 6). Toxicokinetic parameterswere as follows: C_(max), T_(max)and T_(1/2) were( 46. 50 ± 5. 11) mg/L, 0. 167 h, ( 63. 2 ±16. 2) h, respectively.
Conclusion: This method is highly sensitive, high accuracy and is suitable for the analysis of paraquat in the toxicokinetic study in rats.
Keywords: paraquat; toxicokinetic; ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS).