Matrix effect

As the UPLC/MS/MS detection method was based on soft ionization MS, the possible dielectric effects in the analysis process were investigated by preparing two samples: one with 500 µL blank plasma and the other with 500 µL deionized purified water. Then, 50 µL low, medium, and high concentrations (1.06, 5.30, and 21.20 ng/mL) of TA solutions were spiked, and three samples were analyzed for each concentration level. A 10 µL sample was injected, and the chromatogram was recorded to obtain the peak area response values of TA and CA. The matrix effect was determined by comparing the mean peak area of the sample prepared with blank plasma to that of the same concentration sample prepared with deionized purified water. The matrix effects were 95.788%, 100.954%, and 101.079% for the three concentrations, respectively, ranging from 85% to 115%. The I.S. matrix effect was 100.554% (Supplementary Table S1).