关键词: 超高效液相色谱-三重四极杆/线性离子阱质谱, 增强子离子扫描, 前列腺素类似物, 睫毛滋养, 化妆品

Abstract:

A method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometry （UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS） has been developed for the detection and quantification of 7 prostaglandin analogs in eyelash-related cosmetics. Samples were extracted with methanol via ultrasonic extraction and separated on an ACE Excel 2 C₁₈ （100 mm× 2.1 mm, 2 μm） column using a mobile phase of acetonitrile-5 mmol/L ammonium acetate （containing 0.05% formic acid） in a gradient elution mode. Data were collected in the ESI⁺ mode using multiple reaction monitoring （MRM） combined with enhanced product ion scanning （EPI）. Quantification was performed using matrix-matched external standard calibration curves, with both retention times and the ratios of ion pair abundances serving as the basis for qualitative assessments. Further confirmation of target components was achieved through comparison of EPI spectra. The results reveal a strong linear correlation for the 7 prostaglandin analogs within their respective linearity ranges, with the correlation coefficients exceeding 0.999. Sensitivity is characterized by the detection limits ranging from 0.002 0 to 0.020 μg/g and quantitation limits from 0.005 0 to 0.050 μg/g. The average recoveries at three spiked levels are found to be between 87.3% and 107.0%, with the RSDs varying from 0.7% to 5.4% （n=6）. This method is used to analyze 9 batches of eyelash-related cosmetics, and 1 batch is found to contain bimatoprost. The developed method, distinguished by its operational straightforwardness, analytical precision, and detection sensitivity, is adeptly applicable for the quantitative determination and qualitative screening of the 7 prostaglandin analogs in cosmetics.

Key words: ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometry, enhanced product ion scan, prostaglandin analogs, eyelash enhancing, cosmetics