Determination of the two major endocannabinoids in human plasma by μ-SPE followed by HPLC-MS/MS

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2013 Jan;405(2-3):785-93. doi: 10.1007/s00216-012-6273-3. Epub 2012 Jul 31.

Abstract

Endocannabinoids (ECs) are endogenous compounds that interact with type-1 and type-2 cannabinoid receptors (CB(1) and CB(2)), as well as non-cannabinoid receptors. The multitude of roles attributed to ECs makes them an emerging target of pharmacotherapy for a number of disparate diseases. Here a high-throughput bioanalytical method based on micro SPE (μ-SPE) followed by LC-MS/MS analysis for the simultaneous determination of the two major endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide, AEA) in human plasma is presented. The chromatographic conditions obtained with the fused-core column allowed a good separation in 10 min also of the AG isomers. A very simple and reliable extraction has been optimised by means of C18-modified tips: it requires only 100 μL of plasma and allows the use of minimal volumes of organic solvent. The present method allows a rapid and effective clean-up, which also minimises the isomerisation of 2-AG. The whole procedure has been validated following the FDA guidelines for bioanalytical methods validation: the satisfactory recovery values, the negligible matrix effect and the good values of accuracy and reproducibility make it a simple and high-throughput analytical tool for clinical and biochemical studies on endocannabinoid signaling in humans.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arachidonic Acids / blood*
  • Arachidonic Acids / isolation & purification*
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / methods*
  • Endocannabinoids / blood*
  • Endocannabinoids / isolation & purification*
  • Glycerides / blood*
  • Glycerides / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • Solid Phase Microextraction / methods*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry / methods*

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Glycerides
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • anandamide