Two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography purification of underivatized urinary prednisone and prednisolone for compound-specific stable carbon isotope analysis

Abstract

The gas chromatography-combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) confirmation procedure for prednisone (PS) and prednisolone (PSL) is still a great challenge for the doping control laboratory due to the many structurally similar steroids present in urinary matrices. This study aims to establish an innovative online two-dimensional high performance liquid chromatography (2D-HPLC) purification method for measuring the carbon isotope ratios (CIRs) and achieving the identification of the synthetic forms of these two endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids (EAASs). Initially, the one-dimensional chromatographic column was used to separate and purify endogenous reference compounds (ERCs), and the co-elution fluids containing PS and PSL were switched to a two-dimensional chromatographic column for further purification through an online transfer system. Then the purified compounds were analyzed using GC/C/IRMS after sample pretreatments. The results showed that the minimum detection concentration of PS and PSL reached 30 ng mL⁻¹, and no isotope fractionation occurred during the entire collection and preparation process. This method has been validated with the WADA technical document and showed good sensitivity and selectivity, demonstrating its practical applicability for urine samples in doping control laboratories.