Simultaneous separation and determination of 15 organic UV filters in sunscreen cosmetics by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

OBJECTIVE

A comprehensive methodology for the simultaneous determination of 15 multiclass organic UV filters in sunscreen cosmetics was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS).

METHODS

Sunscreen cosmetics of various matrices, such as toning lotion, emulsion, cream and lipstick, were analysed. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was utilized as the extraction technique for sample preparation. The 15 UV filters were chromatographically separated by two groups of mobile phase system on an XBridge C analytical column (150 × 2.1 mm I.D., 3.5 μm particle size) and quantified using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The quantitation was performed using the external calibration method.

RESULTS

The established method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, stability, intraday and interday precisions, recovery and matrix effect. The method was also applied for the determination of UV filters in commercial sunscreen cosmetics.

CONCLUSION

The experimental results demonstrated that the developed method was accurate, rapid and sensitive and can be used for the analytical control of sunscreen cosmetics.