Screening for illegal addition of glucocorticoids in adulterated cosmetic products using ultra‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with precursor ion scanning
Longhai Jian, Xiaoqian Yuan, Jing Han, Rong Zheng, Peng Xingsheng, Ke Wang
Abstract
RATIONALE: The screening for illegal adulteration of glucocorticoids (GCs) in cosmetics is challenging due to the vast variety of potential GCs that are present to improve the declared effects. An effective analytical method to screen illegally added GCs in cosmetics is vital to protect consumers. METHODS: An ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) method using precursor ion scanning (PIS) acquisition mode was developed to screen GCs in cosmetics. Forty-seven GCs were investigated to identify their common product ions formed by collision-induced dissociation. Cosmetic samples spiked with GCs were extracted using solid-phase extraction. RESULTS: Four common positive product ions, m/z 121, 135, 147, and 171, were selected for PIS analysis. Limits of detection (LODs) were established for all 47 GCs. The method was validated on spiked samples to ensure its effectiveness in terms of sensitivity and selectivity. Sixty samples were analyzed. Seven GCs were detected in six samples. CONCLUSIONS: An effective screening method using UPLC/MS/MS with PIS acquisition mode was developed and successfully applied to screen for targeted and untargeted GCs in cosmetic samples.