APPLICATIONS OF LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY (LC-MS) IN DRUG METABOLISM STUDIES

With a view of getting necessary information on the metabolism of drugs and their assorted pharmacokinetics aspects, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry has turned into an integral and very important technology. This review is a good one in the sense that it covers LC-MS applications in drug discovery, preclinical stages, clinical trials, and postmarketing surveillance. In the subsequent article, an account of LC-MS principles and their application as well as techniques of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry about the identification and quantification of different metabolites and view of metabolic pathways are described. Improvements in LC-MS techniques including, high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS) and LC coupled with a tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) have improved the methods of identifying metabolites through elements of sensitivity, accuracy, and efficiency. The update also presents such fresh developments as the hybrid systems on LC-MS-NMR hybrids and the application of radiolabeled compounds for distinguishing between metabolites. Furthermore, the use of LC-MS as well as the coupling of LC-MS with bioinformatics and machine learning for quick and detailed metabolite identification is also highlighted in the article. Therefore, through the analysis of such novel achievements, the review also highlights how LC-MS is instrumental in the manipulation and enhancement of drugs’ efficacy while monitoring the potential toxicity of drugs through the investigation of their metabolites and pharmacokinetic properties.