Documentation of Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) Technique for Quantitative Analysis of Naproxen in Human Plasma

Naproxen is a commonly used non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) employed in treatment of pain, fever and inflammation. It has the ability to bind and inhibit synthesis of prostaglandins and produces anti inflammatory effect. Accurate quantification of naproxen in human plasma is essential for bioavailability, pharmacokinetic and clinical studies. Liquid chromatography -Mass Spectrometry has emerged as a gold standard analytical approach for such purpose due to its good sensitivity, specificity and rapid analysis. A quick and selective LC-MS approach for quantification of naproxen in human plasma can be used in therapeutic drug monitoring as well as in its bioequivalence study. This review article highlights instrumentation, process and methodology employed in quantitative analysis of naproxen in human plasma using LC-MS. Factors such as sample preparation technique (for example, protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction), chromatographic conditions, mass spectrometric parameters and method validation are critically important.