Electromembrane extraction of anthracyclines from plasma: Comparison with conventional extraction techniques

Electromembrane extraction (EME) of the polar zwitterionic drugs, anthracyclines (ANT, doxorubicin, daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol), from rabbit plasma was investigated. The optimized EME compared to conventional sample pretreatment techniques such as protein precipitation (PP) liquid-liquid (LLE), mainly in terms reliability, recovery matrix effect. In addition, phospholipids profile individual extracts evaluated. extracted samples were analyzed using UHPLC-MS/MS with electrospray ionization positive ion mode. method validated within concentration range 0.25–1000 ng/mL for all tested ANT. Compared PP LLE, provided high (more than 80% ANT) excellent clean-up (matrix effect 100 ± 10% RSD values lower 4% ANT). Furthermore, only negligible amounts detected samples. Finally, practical applicability proved by analysis taken a pilot vivo study rabbits. Consistent results obtained when both LLE extract prior analysis, which further confirmed reliability EME. This clearly showed that is simple, rapid, repeatable technique ANT it an up date alternative routine techniques.