Pyrolysis GC-MS Analysis of Auranofin Metabolites in Human Blood

Abstract

Auranofin is an oral gold-based drug for rheumatoid arthritis. Its level in blood is determined by analysis of gold by atomic absorption spectrometry, which does not truly represent the intact drug. As a result till to date no correlation of gold level with efficacy or toxicity could be established. The object of this work was to determine levels of triethylphosphine and triethylphosphine oxide as alternate markers of the drug levels in body tissues. Pyrolysis GC-MS, being rapid and highly sensitive technique, was used for the analysis of the drug in human blood. This involved no extraction or preconcentration process. The method was found to be rapid (total analysis time 15 min), highly sensitive (limit of detection 1) ngmL-1 triethylphosphine oxide; 2) ngmL-1 triethylphosphine), reproducible (CV <2.3%) and accurate (>89% recovery). The method can be applied for this analysis to other body tissues.