Streamlined Vitamin D Metabolite Fingerprinting Analysis Using Isotope-Coded Multiplexing MS with Cost-Effective One-Pot Double Derivatization

In this study, we extended a previously developed one-pot double derivatization reaction to establish the first routine isotope-coded multiplex derivatization for vitamin D and its metabolites for application in clinical environments, using commercial reagents, without the need for specialized reagents and advanced synthesis requirements. The original derivatization process consisted of using both a Cookson-type reagent and derivatization of hydroxyl groups. Initially, the analytes are derivatized by a Diels-Alder reaction using 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD), followed by acetylation using acetic anhydride, catalyzed by 4-dimethylaminopyridine at room temperature. To enable sample multiplexing, we utilized acetic anhydride as well as the <i>d</i> ₃- isotopologue of acetic anhydride, generating <i>d</i> ₃- and <i>d</i> ₆-products of the investigated vitamin D₃ metabolites. This approach not only allowed for the simultaneous measurement of two samples within a single LC-MS/MS run but also improved the LC separation of the important 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ epimers (3α-25(OH)D₃ and 3β-25(OH)D₃) on a conventional C-18 column, addressing a significant challenge in vitamin D analysis. Typically, the separation of these epimers after PTAD derivatization cannot be performed on C-18 columns, necessitating the use of pentafluorophenylpropyl (PFP) stationary phases. However, PFP columns are not as stable as C-18 in long-term use, wherein the acetylation of the C-3 hydroxyl group provided a solution by enhancing chromatographic selectivity and achieving the baseline separation of the metabolites 24,25(OH)₂D₃, 3α-25(OH)D₃, 3β-25(OH)D₃, and vitamin D₃ using a C-18 column with methanol/water gradient elution. The described duplex derivatization was tested on 40 serum samples of patients with chronic liver diseases (CLD). Additionally, the method was evaluated in terms of linearity, accuracy, precision, and interferences between heavy and light tag samples using both commercial quality control samples and in-house quality control and calibration samples.