Analysis of illicit drugs by direct ablation of solid samples

Analysis of illicit drugs arises as an important field of work given the high social impacts presented by drugs in the modern society. Direct laser ablation of solid compounds allows their analysis without sampling or preparation procedures. For that purpose, an experimental set-up that combines laser ablation with time-of- flight mass spectrometry has been constructed very recently to perform studies on the mass spectra of such drugs as 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, commonly known as MDMA or ecstasy. Analysis of the observed fragmentation pattern in mass spectra may elucidate the ablation-induced photofragmentation phenomena produced, which differ from those previously observed with conventional ionization methods.

Rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of domperidone in human plasma

A rapid and sensitive method for the determination of domperidone in plasma was developed, using high-performance liquid chromatographic separation with tandem mass spectrometry detection. The samples were rendered basic with 1 M Na2CO3 and the domperidone extracted using tert.-butyl methyl ether, followed by back-extraction into formic acid (2% in water). Chromatography was performed on a Phenomenex Luna C8 (2), 5 microm, 150x2 mm column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-0.02% formic acid (300:700, v/v), delivered at 0.2 ml/min. Detection was performed using an Applied Biosystems Sciex API 2000 mass spectrometer set at unit resolution in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. TurbolonSpray ionisation was used for ion production. The mean recovery of domperidone was +/- 100%, with a lower limit of quantification set at 0.189 ng/ml. This assay method makes use of the increased sensitivity and selectivity of tandem mass spectrometric detection resulting in a rapid (extraction and chromatography) and sensitive method for the determination of domperidone in human plasma, which is more sensitive than previously described methods.