Analysis of doping control samples using supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: Ready for routine use

Supercritical Fluid Chromatography in Bioanalysis-A Review

In the last decade, the instrumentation improvements in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) and the hyphenation to mass spectrometry (MS), have increased the SFC acceptance between scientists, becoming today a valuable tool in analytical chemistry. The unique selectivity, short analysis times, low consumption of organic solvents, and the greener mobile phase, have contributed to expanding its applicability which has led to an increase in the number of publications especially in the bioanalysis area. This work reviews the advantages and main applications of SFC in bioanalysis during the last 5 years. Fundamental aspects concerning mobile phase composition, stationary phase, hyphenation to MS as well as matrix effect have been discussed. Finally, the most relevant applications have been summarized.

A novel ultra-high-performance supercritical fluid chromatography hyphenated to tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of urinary endogenous steroids in the anti-doping context

The first step in the detection of testosterone (T) doping is to measure the urinary steroid profile for the athlete biological passport (ABP). To harmonise the analysis between anti-doping laboratories, urinary steroid profiling is parametrised in deep detail and shall be performed by gas chromatography hyphenated to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). However, due to its requirement for extensive sample preparation, alternatives to GC-MS are being actively pursued. The aim of this study was the evaluation of Ultra-High-Performance Supercritical Fluid Chromatography hyphenated to tandem Mass Spectrometry (UHPSFC-MS/MS) as an alternative for the quantification of endogenous urinary steroids. In this context, we developed a high throughput sample extraction method, followed by a novel UHPSFC-MS/MS method for the analysis of 10 endogenous urinary steroids which are relevant for doping control analysis. Depending on the steroid, the herein presented method is capable of quantification from 0.5 ng/mL up to 10 µg/mL. After validation, the applicability of the method was evaluated by analysing 132 authentic urine samples, which demonstrated results similar to classical GC-MS analysis. Steroid concentrations determined by UHPSFC-MS/MS were slightly overestimated in comparison with GC-MS, but the ratios had <10 % difference between the two methods. As the ABP considers the steroid ratios for passport evaluation, the herein presented method could be used for steroid profiling without reducing the sensitivity of the ABP. Thus, we would propose to consider UHPSFC-MS/MS as an alternative to GC-MS after more tests would have been performed to support our findings. Furthermore, we have also investigated the potential of this technology for sample purification prior to Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) for the differentiation between exogenous and endogenous origin of T and its metabolites. While the achieved separation was sufficient to purify urine samples for IRMS analysis in our proof-of-concept study, the instrumental parameters should be further refined for future use.

Research progress on pretreatment technology for the analysis of amphetamine biological samples

Sample pretreatment technology is crucial for drug analysis and detection, because the effect of sample pretreatment directly determinates the final analysis results. In recent years, with the continuous innovation of microextraction and other technologies like material preparation technologies and assistant technologies for extraction, the sample pretreatment techniques in the process of drug analysis have become more and more mature and diverse. This article takes amphetamine (AM) or methamphetamine as an example to review the recent development of pretreatment methods for AM-containing biological samples from the perspectives of extraction techniques, extraction media and auxiliary technologies. Extraction techniques are summarized with the categories of contact microextraction, separate microextraction and membrane-based microextraction for better guidance of application according to their features. Prevailing and innovative extraction media including carbon-based material, silicon-based material, metal organic framework, molecularly selective materials, supramolecular solvents and ionic liquids are reviewed. Auxiliary technologies like magnetic field, electric field, microwave, ultrasound and so on which can enhance extraction efficiency and accuracy are also reviewed. In the last, prospects of the future development of pretreatment technology for the analysis of AM biological samples are provided.

Routine application of SFC-MS in doping control: Analysis of 3 × 1000 urine samples using three different SFC-MS instruments

Supercritical fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SFC-MS) has proved to be a beneficial tool for sample analysis for a wide variety of compounds and, as such, has recently gained the attention of the anti-doping community. We have tested the applicability of SFC-MS for routine doping control analysing approximately 3 × 1000 identical anti-doping samples utilising SFC-MS instruments from three different vendors: Agilent Technologies, Waters Corporation and Shimadzu Corporation. A 'dilute and inject' approach either without or after hydrolysis of glucuronide metabolites was applied. Most of the compounds included in our study demonstrated excellent chromatography, whereas some showed co-elution with endogenous interferences requiring MS discrimination. Retention times typically were very stable within batches (%CV ≤ 0.5%), although this appeared to be analyte and column dependent. Chromatographic peak shape was good (symmetrical) and stable over the period of the testing without any change of column. Our results suggest that SFC-MS is a sensitive, reproducible and robust analytical tool ready to be used in anti-doping laboratories alongside the currently applied techniques such as gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Even if instruments are designed slightly differently, all three setups demonstrated their fitness for the purpose in anti-doping testing.

Annual banned-substance review 16th edition-Analytical approaches in human sports drug testing 2022/2023

In this 16th edition of the annual banned-substance review on analytical approaches in human sports drug testing, literature on recent developments in this particular section of global anti-doping efforts that was published between October 2022 and September 2023 is summarized and discussed. Most recent additions to the continuously growing portfolio of doping control analytical approaches and investigations into analytical challenges in the context of adverse analytical findings are presented, taking into account existing as well as emerging challenges in anti-doping, with specific focus on substances and methods of doping recognized in the World Anti-Doping Agency's 2023 Prohibited List. As in previous years, focus is put particularly on new or enhanced analytical options in human doping controls, appreciating the exigence and core mission of anti-doping and, equally, the conflict arising from the opposingly trending extent of the athlete's exposome and the sensitivity of instruments nowadays commonly available in anti-doping laboratories.