Detection and assessment of co-association in inhalable drug particles using aerosol time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2008 Dec;22(23):3873-82. doi: 10.1002/rcm.3774.

Abstract

Aerosol Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (AToFMS) was used to examine co-association between two inhaled drugs, fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol xinofoate (SX), in fine aerosolised particles emitted from Seretide(R)/Advair(R) inhaled combination products. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify fragmentation patterns indicative of either pure or co-associated particles (particles containing both drugs). A third component of the particles emitted from dry powder inhalers (DPIs), lactose, gave only a very weak mass spectral signal and no interpretable data was acquired for this compound; however, it was not found to interfere with the detection of the two drug substances. High levels of co-association were found in the emitted doses from both pressurised metered dose inhaler (pMDI) and dry powder inhaler (DPI) products.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Aerosols / chemistry
  • Albuterol / administration & dosage
  • Albuterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Albuterol / chemistry
  • Androstadienes / administration & dosage
  • Androstadienes / chemistry*
  • Bronchodilator Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bronchodilator Agents / chemistry
  • Drug Combinations
  • Fluticasone
  • Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination
  • Humans
  • Lactose / analysis
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Metered Dose Inhalers
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Nebulizers and Vaporizers
  • Particle Size
  • Principal Component Analysis*
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Androstadienes
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Drug Combinations
  • Fluticasone-Salmeterol Drug Combination
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Fluticasone
  • Lactose
  • Albuterol