A method has been developed for the real-time analysis of components in in
vitro reactions by the on-line combination of microdialysis sampling (MD) w
ith tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and single stage mass spectrometry (MS
). Apparatus and parameters associated with the integration have been studi
ed. Analytical figures of merit for the drug gepirone have been determined.
The qualitative 'limit of identification' was found to be 100 ng/ml and 20
0 ng/ml for methods using thermospray and electrospray MS interfaces, respe
ctively. Using this approach, monitoring of in vitro experiments involving
drug metabolites, enzymatic reactions, and ligand-protein binding interacti
ons were performed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.