In this study, a new type of single quadrupole mass spectrometric detector was implemented in transdermal research. The local skin pharmacokinetic properties of the plant N-alkylamides (NAAs) pellitorine and anacycline, present in an Anacyclus pyrethrum extract, and spilanthol, present in a Spilanthes acmella extract were investigated. This single quad MS detection method showed great advantages compared to the traditional UV detector. The NAAs could be identified and quantified in the samples with an ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-single quad MS detection system, even if they were not separated, which is a requirement when using an UV-detector. Another advantage of the UPLC-MS system is that lower limit of detection values could be obtained allowing a more accurate and precise determination of the experimental lag time in the in vitro skin permeation experiments. To conclude, this single quad MS detector coupled to UPLC is a useful analytical tool with improved performance compared to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV for biomedical-pharmaceutical purposes in transdermal research.
Keywords: Lag time; N-alkylamide; SIM; UPLC–single quad MS.
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