Simple, fast and robust LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin in human plasma and urine

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 –inhibitors (SGLT2i) are oral glucose-lowering drugs that have also demonstrated cardioprotective and renoprotective effects. SGLT2i play an increasingly important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Here we report a simple and robust liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of three SGLT2i (canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin) in human plasma, serum and urine with a runtime of 1 min. Methanol was used as protein precipitating agent. Chromatographic separation was accomplished using a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 1.8 μm; 2.1 × 50 mm column with a Waters ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 1.8 μm VanGuard Pre-column; 2.1 × 5 mm, using gradient elution with ammonium acetate 20 mM (pH 5) and acetonitrile as mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min. Mass spectrometric analysis of the acetate adduct ions was carried out using electrospray with negative ionization and SRM mode. The assay was validated according to FDA and EMA guidelines, including selectivity, linearity, accuracy and precision, dilution integrity, stability and recovery. With a sample volume of 200 µl, linear ranges of 10–5000 µg/L, 1–500 µg/L and 2–1000 µg/L for canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin respectively, were achieved. The assay was successfully applied in two pharmacokinetic studies with dapagliflozin and empagliflozin. In conclusion, we developed and validated a simple, fast and robust LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin, that allows rapid analysis of large numbers of samples and can be used for both pharmacokinetic studies and biomedical analysis of canagliflozin, dapagliflozin and empagliflozin.