An LC-MS Method Development and Validation for the Estimation of Ritonavir in Plasma Samples

Abstract

This project aims to create and verify a method using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to measure the amount of ritonavir in human plasma. Saquinavir will be used as the internal standard for this analysis. Chromatographic isolation was processed HYPURITY ADVACE 50 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm (Make: Thermo scientific) analytical column with mobile phase composition of methanol and ammonium acetate 5 mm buffer in the ratio of 85:15% v/v. Detection was processed in a positive ionic approach and the parent and product ion transitions were monitored at 721.30/296.10 for ritonavir and 671.30/570.30 for saquinavir (API 2000). The measurement of the linearity curve for regression analysis The correlation coefficient (r) exhibited a remarkable value of over 0.99 within the concentration range of 8.004 to 1600.001 ng/mL for ritonavir. All eight batches showed no significant matrix effect. It was found that the standardized matrix factor had a precision of 1.90% at the LQC level and 2.38% at the HQC level. It was 0.992 for LQC and 1.005 for HQC when the IS factor was taken into account. Ritonavir had a general recovery rate of 89.07%, with a range of accuracy from 0.85 to 2.55%. The internal standard drug saquinavir had an average recovery rate of 90.18%, with a range of accuracy from 1.89 to 3.40%. The developed method was successfully validated and can be utilized for the assessment of ritonavir in biological matrices in industries, forensic labs, quality control labs, and bioavailability studies.