Optimization of N-acetylcysteine Determination by Ion Mobility Spectrometry using Central Composite Design

Abstract

In this study, a simple and rapid method for N-acetylcysteine (NAC) determination was proposed using positive corona discharge ion mobility spectrometry. To optimize cell and injection temperature, central composite design was used. Other parameters such as corona and drift voltage, carrier and drift gas flow rate, and pulse width were adjusted. The calibration curve was linear under optimum conditions in the range of 3–100 ng with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.99. The relative standard deviations were 8.1 and 6.1%, for 20 and 50 ng of analyte (n = 9), respectively. Limits of detection and quantification were 1 and 3 ng, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of NAC in pharmaceutical and human plasma samples.