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China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics ›› 2025, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (3): 399-406.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2097-2806.2025.03.016

• Analytical methods and testing • Previous Articles    

Determination of 21 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in cosmetics by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Keran Feng1,2,Xiaoming Wu1,2,Liangbo Ma3,Yu Sun3,*()   

  1. 1. National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Cosmetics, Beijing 100050, China
    2. National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing 100050, China
    3. Centre Testing International Group Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong 518101, China
  • Received:2024-04-20 Revised:2025-02-28 Online:2025-03-22 Published:2025-04-01
  • Contact: *E-mail: sunyu@cti-cert.com.

Abstract:

A method was developed for the determination of 21 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in cosmetics by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Four kinds of cosmetics such as cream, facial mask, gel and toner were selected as representative matrix. The sample pretreatment conditions, chromatography and mass spectrometry conditions were systematically investigated. At first, the cosmetic samples were extracted by methanol for cream, gel, toner matrix, and methanol containing 0.3% (V/V) formic acid for facial mask matrix by ultrasonic-assisted liquid-liquid extraction. Then they were separated on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (1.7 μm, 2.1 mm×150 mm) by gradient elution. Aqueous containing 0.1% (V/V) formic acid and acetonitrile were used as mobile phases. The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min and injection volume was 5 μL. Finally, samples were detected with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning mode. The results show a good linearity in the concentration range of 10-100 μg/L for rofecoxib and 5-50 μg/L for other NSAIDs. The spiked recoveries at the low, medium, and high levels range from 72.1% to 117.3%, with the RSD ranging from 0.6% to 9.7% (n=6). This method has the characteristics of simple operation, high accuracy, and good sensitivity. It is suitable for the detection of NSAIDs in cosmetics, and provides a technical support for the supervision in cosmetics.

Key words: ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, cosmetics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

CLC Number: 

  • TQ658