1 Introduction

Selexipag is obtained from Actelion [1] is employed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) [2, 3] to slow down disease development and decrease the possibility of hospitalization. PAH may be a comparatively rare disorder with normally a poor forecast needing more caring options to extend long term out comes. Retailed by Actelion drug under name Uptravi. Selexipag and its active metabolite are agonists [4, 5] of the professional stacycline receptor, which results in vasodilation [6] within the circulation [7, 8] and reduce elevated pressure within the blood cells carrying blood to the lungs. Selexipag has been related to a coffee rate of anti-body adjuvant elevations during treatment, but has yet to be indicated in cases of scientific evident acute liver wound [9]. Europe country selexipag used as strong inhibitors in liver enzyme in gemfibrozil [10, 11] is contraindicated because it increases concentrations of selexipag two fold and its working metabolite 11 fold, potentially resulting in more adverse effects. The adverse effects of selexipag are almost like those of intravenous prostacyclin[12] used for pulmonary arterial hypertension. General side effects are head ache, and jaw pain, hyperthyroidism [13] has also been noted in people taking selexipag. Bio analysis is area of analytical chemistry [14] in quantitative measurement of xenobiotics [15, 16] and biotics in biological systems. The chemical structure of Selexipag as shown in Fig. 1. Bio analytical common techniques are, hyphenated techniques: LCMS, GCMS, LC-DAD, CE-MS. Chromatographic methods: HPLC, GC, UPLC super critical fluid chromatography. It is deals with organictestscarrying the substance alongside a various range of chemicals which will have an unfavorable effect on the exact and specific amount of the analyte. As such a good range of techniques are applied to extract the analytes from its matrix. It is having protein precipitation [17], liquid–liquid extraction [18], solid phase extraction [19]. Selexipag yields it active metabolite [20] by hydrolysis of the acylsulfonamide by the enzyme hepatic carboxylesterase [21]. Oxidative metabolism catalyzed by CYP3A4 and CYP2C8 results in hydroxylated [22] and dealkylated products. UGT1A3 and UGT2B7 are involved in the glucuronidation [23] of the active metabolite, other metabolites in circulation do not exceed 3% of the total drug related material. In fact, last few years, we are working on formulations, validation and degradation study of various drugs [24,25,26]. In this study, we focused on method development and validation on new a LCMS/MS method for the quantification of slexipag and related impurities along with their pharamcokintics studies.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Structural representation of selexipag

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2 Materials and method

2.1 Chemicals and reagents

The reference standards of selexipag (purity-99.9%) and its related impurities (purity-99.9%) were got from Candila health care ltd, Ahmedabad, India. HPLC marked acetonitrile, formic acid were got from Merck (India), Worli, Mumbai, India. HPLC grade water was gained from Milli Q (Milli Q system, USA) water purification. Rat plasma was obtained from Bharat biotech Ltd, Hyderabad.

2.2 Equipment

Waters, Alliance e2695 model HPLC provided with column oven, auto sampler and degasser was operated for analysis. The HPLC system was coupled to SCIEX QTRAP 5500 mass spectrometer equipped with electro spray ionization interface. SCIEX software was utilized for the interpretation of the data of chromatograms. In the separation and validation of selexipag a column of X-Bridge phenyl is used.

2.3 Chromatographic conditions

2.3.1 HPLC conditions

A mixture of buffer (1 ml of formic acid in 1 L of water) and acetonitrile in a gradient mode was operated as mobile phase with a movement of 1 ml/min. In this validation gradient elution with an injection volume 10 µl is used.

2.3.2 LC/MS/MS conditions

Multiple reaction monitoring mode of mass spectrometer with positive ion mode electro spray ionization was used in the separation of selexipag and its impurities. Collision energy of 15 and 14 V, source temperature of 550 °C, ion spray voltage 5500 V, drying gas temperature of 120–250 °C, collision gas of nitrogen, entrance and exit potentials of 10 V, 7 V and dwell time of 1 s was used in mass spectrometer.

2.4 Preparation of standard and quality control samples

The standard solution of selexipag (50 ng/ml), impurity-1 (0.5 ng/ml), impurity-A (50 pg/ml), impurity-B (0.26 ng/ml), impurity-C (20 pg/ml), impurity-D (active metabolite) (0.56 pg/ml), impurity-E (1 ng/ml), n-oxide (10 pg/ml), and SE-60 (20 pg/ml) was made by diluting with diluents. Prepared standard solutions were stored at 4 °C and bring back to room temperature before using them.

2.5 Preparation of sample solution

The sample solution was prepared by mixing 200 µl of plasma, 800 µl of acetonitrile, 500 µl of internal standard and 500 µl of standard stock. To precipitate all the proteins, mix in vortex cyclomixture. Centrifuge at 400 rpm for 20 min. Collect the supernatant solution in HPLC vial and inject into the chromatogram.

2.6 Method validation

2.6.1 Selectivity

The optimized LC–MS/MS technique was studied by examining six lots of individual plasma samples. The chromatograms of spiked plasma samples at LLOQC amount were differentiate to above mentioned blank plasma samples.

2.7 Matrix effect

The matrix effect of selexipag along with its impurities and IS was assessed by comparing the area of the peak ratio in the extracted plasma sample taken from six different rats. It was studied at LQC and HQC levels in three replicates.

2.7.1 Dilution integrity

Dilution integrity should be exhibited by doping the matrix with substance accumulation exceeding the ULOQC and mixing this selected sample with blank matrix.

2.7.2 Precision and accuracy

Same day accuracy and precision were tested in six replicates in a single set using samples from HQC, MQC, LQC and LLOQC levels. The inter-day precision and accuracy were tested by analyzing HQC, MQC, LQC and LLOQC concentration samples on three successive separate batches. The precision was expressed by percent CV and accuracy by percent recovery.

2.7.3 Carry over

The analyte retained by the chromatographic system during the injection of a sample that appears in subsequent blank or unknown samples.

2.7.4 Recovery

The withdrawal efficiencies of selexipag and its impurities were calculated by examination of six duplicates at each quality control concentration. The percentage recovery was evaluated by peak responses of extracted standards to the peak responses of non-extracted standards.

2.7.5 Stability

Stability is done by area response and internal standard in the stability sample with the area response of typical prepared from new solution. Stability studies were carryout in low and high quantity accumulation levels using six preparations in every level. Samples are stable below 15% as per USFDA guidelines. Bench top stability samples were stored at 2–8 °C in auto sampler tested up to 24 h. Freeze thaw stability samples are frozen at −30 °C and thawed three times compared to freshly prepared control sample. Six different samples of LQC and HQC levels are used for freeze thaw stability. Wet extract stability samples are stored temperature below 10 °C for 24 h.

3 Results and discussion

The optimization of instrument to offer sensitivity and signal stability throughout in fusion of the analyte within the continuous flow of movable phase to electro spray ion source operated at both polarities at flow of 10 µl/min. Selexipag and its impurities give more response in positive ion mode in comparison with negative ion mode.

To obtain the simplest chromatographic condition, different columns like C18, C8 and CN-propyl and mobile phases composed of 0.1% OPA and acetonitrile were tested. The simplest chromatographic separation occurred on X-Bridge phenyl column with a movable phase of acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid with a gradient elution rate of 1 ml/min. The mass spectras of Selexipag and their internal standard Ambrisentan was shown in Fig. 2a and b.

Fig. 2
figure 2

a Mass spectra of Selexipag b Mass spectra of Ambrisentan (IS)

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3.1 Method validation

3.1.1 Selectivity and sensitivity

Blank plasma and spiked plasma with LOQ sample in of selexipag and its impurities. The % interference of retention time of analytes between six different lots of rat plasma, including hemolyzed and lipedemic plasma containing K2EDTA as an anti-coagulant for selexipag respectively, it is within the acceptable criteria. Six replicates of extracted samples at LLOQC level in one of the plasma sample having least interference at the retention time of selexipag was prepared and analyzed. The % CV of the area ratios of these six replicates of samples was 1.54% of selexipag. The blank and LLOQC chromatogram was shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 3
figure 3

Blank plasma chromatogram of selexipag

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Fig. 4
figure 4

LLOQC chromatogram for selexipag and its related impurities

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3.1.2 Matrix effect

The ion suppression/enhancement % CV in the signal was observed to be 1.0% at MQC level for selexipag and its impurities. It indicates that the matrix effect on the ionization of analyte is within the allowable limit.

3.1.3 Linearity

From the calibration curve it was clear that the peak response ratios were proportional to the concentration. The regression coefficient of selexipag and its impurities were observed to be ≥ 0.999. Linearity of Selexipag and their impurities concentration vs area ratio values are shown in Table 1 and their calibration curves are shown in Fig. 5.

Table 1 A and B are the linearity data of selexipag and its impurities
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Fig. 5
figure 5

Calibration Curves for a selexipag; b Selexipag Imp-1; c Selexipag Imp-A; d Selexipag Imp-B; e Selexipag Imp-C; f Selexipag Imp-D (active metabolite); g Selexipag Imp-E; h Selexipag Imp n-oxide; i Selexipag Imp SE-60

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3.1.4 Prediction linearity

From the calibration curve it was clear that the peak response ratios were proportional to the concentration. In this prediction linearity it was observed that the regression coefficient of selexipag and its impurities were observed to be within the allowable limit. (R2 = 0.999). Prediction linearity of Selexipag and their impurities concentration vs area ratio values are shown in Table 2 and their calibration curves are shown in Fig. 6.

Table 2 A and B are the prediction linearity data of selexipag and its impurities
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Fig. 6
figure 6

Calibration Plot for a Selexipag; b Impurity-1; c Impurity-A; d Impurity-B; e Impurity-C; f Impurity-D; g Impurity-E; h Impurity-h; i Impurity SE-60 prediction linearity

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3.1.5 Precision and accuracy

The inter-run and accuracy were calculated by merging all separate results of reproduce quality control over five individual batch runs examined on four dissimilar days. The % CV of inter-run precision was < 5% and the value of inter-run accuracy was in the range of 85–115% for selexipag and its impurities. Precision and accuracy results are tabulated in Table 3.

Table 3 Precision and accuracy results of Selexipag and its impurities
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3.1.6 Recovery

For recovery determination LQC, HQC and MQC concentration levels for selexipag and its impurities were prepared and obtained areas for extracted samples of the same accumulation levels from a precision and accuracy batch run on a same day.

3.1.7 Carry over

System error that may affect the measured value of the sample is called carry over. Samples carry over on a LC–MS/MS system configured with waters alliance was evaluated using the following procedure. A system blank injection of 10 µl 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile in a gradient mode was made on to a waters Zspray triple quadrupole mass detector using flow injection analysis. From this we can say that it does not affect the accuracy and precision of the proposed method. Sample carry over was intimated as both % carry over and nL carry over.

3.1.8 Re-injection and reproducibility

Throughout real subject sample examination, re injection re-reducibility was performed to check the instrument after hard ware deactivation due to any instrument failure. At LQC and HQC levels the changes were less than 2.0, hence throughout real subject test examination the batch was re injected in the case of instrument miscarriage. Samples were prepared and re injected after 24 h, shows % change should be less than 2.0 at LQC and HQC levels. Hence inside the case of instrument failure the sample can be re injected after 24 h.

3.1.9 Stability

In solution stability analysis, selexipag and its impurity solutions were prepared with diluents and put in storage at 2–8 °C in a refrigerator. Fresh stock solutions were related to aged stock solutions prepared earlier 24 h. From the values of % changes of selexipag and its impurities, it is clear that the stock solutions are stable up to 24 h when stored in 2–8 °C. Bench top and auto sampler stabilities were observed at LQC, MQC and HQC levels.

At room temperature the selexipag and its impurities were steady in plasma for 24 h, and in auto sampler at 20 °C for 24 h. From this it was confirmed that, at LQC and HQC levels repeated freezing and thawing of plasma samples spiked with selexipag and its impurities didn’t influence their stabilities. From long term stability it was clear that selexipag and its impurities were stable at 24 h at a storage temperature of −30 °C. The stability data are shown in Table 4.

Table 4 Stability results of Selexipag and its impurities
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3.1.10 Pharmacokinetic study

The method has been validated successfully to quantify the concentration of selexipag and its impurities in 6 different groups of rats were administered of selexipag and its impurities sample as an oral dose, under fasting condition. After injecting the drug samples into a rat body, collect the samples at selected intervals of time like 0, 1, 2, 2.5, 3, 4 and 6 h from the rat body. After that as per test method sample is prepared and injected into the chromatographic system and record the values. The evaluated pharmacokinetic parameters were Cmax, tmax, and t1/2 were calculated. Pharmacokinetic results were shown in Table 5 and there plots are shown in Fig. 7.

Table 5 Mean pharmacokinetic parameters of Selexipag and its impurities
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Fig. 7
figure 7

Recovery plot of selexipag (a) and its impurities, active metabolite (b, c)

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4 Conclusion

For the first time higher sensitive HPLC-LC–MS/MS method was evolved and validated for the determination of selexipag and its impurities in rat plasma. Here the described method is fast, rugged and reproducible bio analytical method. Easy and systematic method was developed and can be used in pharmacokinetic studies and to check the investigated analyte in body fluids.