Electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) of selected pharmaceuticals

This review surveys recent publications on the Electrospray Ionisation - Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) of drugs of small molecular mass taken from selected drug classes using the Web of Knowledge database. The structural classes are antibiotics/antibacterials, steroids, cannabinols, antidiabetics, immunosuppressants, antitumour drugs, antiretroviral drugs, nonsteroidal antiinflammatories, mucolytic drugs, anticoagulants, cyclooxygenase inhibitors, stimulants, noradrenergic agents, anti-TB drugs and erectile dysfunction agents. Fragmentation information that these drugs exhibit in-source and in ion-trap, triple quadrupole and time-of flight mass spectrometers is also provided. An appraisal of applications for the period 2004-2005, again taken from the Web of Knowledge database, of the technique liquid chromatography - electrospray ionization - mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS)to the detection and determination of these drugs, primarily in biomatrices, is then made. Information on such aspects as sample concentration, LC separation conditions, recoveries from biological media and limits of detection (LODs) are provided.