Review of HPLC-MS methods for the analysis of nicotine and its active metabolite cotinine in various biological matrices.

This study focuses on review of hplc-ms methods for the analysis of nicotine and its active metabolite cotinine in various biological matrices.. The research employs high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) techniques to address analytical challenges in the pharmaceutical field. In recent years, tobacco smoking is a risk factor for a series of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and cancers. Nicotine, the primary component of tobacco smoke, is mainly transformed to its active metabolite cotinine, which is often used as a biomarker for tobacco exposure for its higher blood... Research Background and Significance Nicotine, a primary alkaloid found in tobacco, has been extensively studied due to its significant health implications. Upon entering the human body, nicotine is rapidly metabolized primarily into cotinine, an active metabolite that serves as a reliable biomarker for tobacco exposure. Accurate quantification of both nicotine and cotinine in biological matrices is essential for clinical, pharmaceutical, and toxicological studies, including monitoring smoking cessation programs and assessing exposure-related disease risks. The complexity of biological samples, coupled with the low concentration levels of these analytes, presents analytical challenges that demand highly sensitive, selective, and reproducible methods. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) has emerged as a powerful analytical tool capable of meeting these challenges due to its superior specificity, sensitivity, and versatility. This review critically assesses existing HPLC-MS methodologies for analyzing nicotine and cotinine across diverse biological matrices, emphasizing their pharmaceutical relevance and practical appl