Identification of degradation products from aqueous carboplatin injection samples by electrospray mass spectrometry

Four different carboplatin injection samples in water (∼10 mg/ml) stored at room temperature were investigated for degradation products by electrospray liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (ESI/LC–MS). A mass spectrometer compatible mobile phase system with 0.02% formic acid and methanol was used to resolve the impurities. Possible chemical structures of the unknown impurities and its degradation mechanism were proposed based on its experimental results and literature findings.