RAPID METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF METABOLITE OF SULFUR MUSTARD 1,1′-SULFONYLBIS[2-S-(N-ACETYLCYSTEINYL)ETHANE] IN PLASMA AND URINE BY LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-NEGATIVE ELECTROSPRAY-TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY

Abstract

Abstract A method for detection of an important biological marker, 1,1′-sulfonylbis[2-S-(N-acetylcysteinyl)ethane] (SBSNAE) of sulfur mustard agent [bis-(2-chloroethyl)sulfide] (HD) in human plasma and rat urine to quantify HD exposure, is presented. It employs solid-phase extraction sample preparation, followed by liquid-chromatography-negative ion-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry. The method limit of detection (LOD) for SBSNAE is 0.05 ng/mL for rat urine samples with relative standard deviations of less than 10%. Application of this procedure was demonstrated in the HD animal exposure model. Rats were exposed intravenously to 5 mg/kg HD, and SBSNAE levels in urine samples were analyzed for 22 days post-exposure. Keywords: biosampleschemical agentliquid chromatographymetabolitessulfur mustardtandem mass spectrometry