Confirmation of In Vitro Nefazodone Metabolites using the Superior Fragmentation of the QTRAP ® 5500 LC / MS / MS System

Recently, nefazodone (anti-depressant) has been the target compound for metabolite studies due to the quantity and diversity of biotransformations than can occur in the CYP450 enzymes. Several scientific publications have evaluated different workflows and mass spectrometry platforms for this specific application. Herein, we report an effective and sensitive method to identify Nefazodone metabolites using the new QTRAP 5500 LC/MS/MS System. The system’s significant performance improvement for Quadrupole and Linear Ion Trap sensitivity and scan speed, allow for highly effective detection and confirmation of in vitro and in vivo metabolites. The faster scan rates are a perfect match for small particle, high-pressure LC workflows for better separation and throughput. Using a pMRM approach and a rapid 10 minute chromatographic analysis, a significant number of metabolites were found and confirmed in a single injection (more than any other MS technologies used in previous literature references). This level of identification in a rapid chromatographic analysis demonstrates the abilities of the QTRAP 5500 System for high throughput and a detailed metabolite analysis, with a depth of detection not possible on other MS technologies. Furthermore, the improved sensitivity in LIT mode allows for fine structural confirmation, since a greater number of diagnostic low level fragments are detectable compared to less sensitive accurate mass systems.