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Lin YC, Chien WC, Wang YX, Wang YH, Yang FS, Tseng LP, Hung JH. PS 2MS: A Deep Learning-Based Prediction System for Identifying New Psychoactive Substances Using Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2024; 96:4835-4844. [PMID: 38488022 PMCID: PMC10974679 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The rapid proliferation of new psychoactive substances (NPS) poses significant challenges to conventional mass-spectrometry-based identification methods due to the absence of reference spectra for these emerging substances. This paper introduces PS2MS, an AI-powered predictive system designed specifically to address the limitations of identifying the emergence of unidentified novel illicit drugs. PS2MS builds a synthetic NPS database by enumerating feasible derivatives of known substances and uses deep learning to generate mass spectra and chemical fingerprints. When the mass spectrum of an analyte does not match any known reference, PS2MS simultaneously examines the chemical fingerprint and mass spectrum against the putative NPS database using integrated metrics to deduce possible identities. Experimental results affirm the effectiveness of PS2MS in identifying cathinone derivatives within real evidence specimens, signifying its potential for practical use in identifying emerging drugs of abuse for researchers and forensic experts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ching Lin
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Doctoral
Degree Program of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department
of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chen Chien
- Department
of Computer Science, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, HsinChu 300, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Xuan Wang
- Department
of Computer Science, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, HsinChu 300, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hau Wang
- Department
of Computer Science, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, HsinChu 300, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Shuo Yang
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
- Department
of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry, Kaohsiung
Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Li-Ping Tseng
- Department
of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Hung Hung
- Department
of Computer Science, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, HsinChu 300, Taiwan
- Program
in Biomedical Artificial Intelligence, National
Tsing Hua University, HsinChu 300, Taiwan
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Diniz MCC, de Moura F, Machado Y, Coelho Neto J, Piccin E. A simple, quick and non-destructive approach for sampling drugs of abuse in tablets and blotter for qualitative analysis by paper spray mass spectrometry. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2023; 15:6259-6265. [PMID: 37955245 DOI: 10.1039/d3ay01393f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
This study presents the development of a simple, fast, and inexpensive approach for the direct analysis of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in seized tablets and blotter paper, with improved sample preservation and increased analytical frequency. Paper triangles were gently rubbed against the surface of the samples containing synthetic drugs and then subjected to analysis by paper spray ionization mass spectrometry (PS-MS). Seized samples containing lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and several other substances from the classes of amphetamines, N-benzyl-substituted phenethylamines, synthetic cathinones, and synthetic cannabinoids, were analysed. Three types of paper were tested (filter paper, blotter paper, and synthetic paper) and several combinations of spray solvents were studied for the optimization. All samples were weighed and photographed before and after sequences of analysis in order to attest to the sample preservation. The results revealed that the approach is excellent for sample preservation, with less than 5% of mass loss even after 27 consecutive analyses. Moreover, no significant signal decreases were observed in mass spectrometry (MS) even after the experiments. It was possible to unequivocally identify illicit substances from seized samples (pills and blotter paper). By overcoming the solubilization and wet extraction process used for sample preparation, the waste was restricted to a volume of only 10 μL of solvent for the PS-MS analysis. The main advantage of our approach over existing methods is the sample preparation, which is simple and quick since the samples are just rubbed against the PS paper. This brings enormous benefits in terms of analytical frequency, economy of time and low consumption of solvents. Another important point is that the sample can remain intact for further analysis, which is crucial in forensic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana C C Diniz
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Antônio Carlos Ave., 6627, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Fabiana de Moura
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Antônio Carlos Ave., 6627, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
- Departamento de Química, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Amazonas Ave., 5253, CEP 30421-169, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Yuri Machado
- Seção Técnica de Física e Química Legal, Divisão de Laboratórios, Instituto de Criminalística, Superintendência de Polícia Técnico-Científica, Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais, Augusto de Lima Ave., 1833, CEP 30110-017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
| | - José Coelho Neto
- Seção Técnica de Física e Química Legal, Divisão de Laboratórios, Instituto de Criminalística, Superintendência de Polícia Técnico-Científica, Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais, Augusto de Lima Ave., 1833, CEP 30110-017, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Antônio Carlos Ave., 6627, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Evandro Piccin
- Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Antônio Carlos Ave., 6627, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Lenzi M, Gasperini S, Corli G, Marti M, Hrelia P. Genotoxicity Evaluation of The Novel Psychoactive Substance MTTA. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10498. [PMID: 37445675 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
MTTA, also known as mephtetramine, is a stimulant novel psychoactive substance characterized by a simil-cathinonic structure. To date, little has been studied on its pharmaco-toxicological profile, and its genotoxic potential has never been assessed. In order to fill this gap, the aim of the present work was to evaluate its genotoxicity on TK6 cells in terms of its ability to induce structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations by means of a cytofluorimetric protocol of the "In Vitro Mammalian Cell Micronucleus (MN) test". To consider the in vitro effects of both the parental compound and the related metabolites, TK6 cells were treated with MTTA in the absence or presence of an exogenous metabolic activation system (S9 mix) for a short-term time (3 h) followed by a recovery period (23 h). No statistically significant increase in the MNi frequency was detected. Specifically, in the presence of S9 mix, only a slight increasing trend was observable at all tested concentrations, whereas, without S9 mix, at 75 µM, almost a doubling of the negative control was reached. For the purposes of comprehensive evaluation, a long-term treatment (26 h) was also included. In this case, a statistically significant enhancement in the MNi frequency was observed at 50 µM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monia Lenzi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sofia Gasperini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giorgia Corli
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Matteo Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Collaborative Center for the Italian National Early Warning System, Department of Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, 00186 Rome, Italy
| | - Patrizia Hrelia
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Bonetti JL, Kranenburg RF, Schoonderwoerd E, Samanipour S, van Asten AC. Instrument-independent chemometric models for rapid, calibration-free NPS isomer differentiation from mass spectral GC-MS data. Forensic Sci Int 2023:111650. [PMID: 37028998 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Chemometric analysis of mass spectral data for the purpose of differentiating positional isomers of novel psychoactive substances has seen a substantial increase in popularity in recent years. However, the process of generating a large and robust dataset for chemometric isomer identification is time consuming and impractical for forensic laboratories. To begin to address this problem, three sets of ortho/meta/para positional ring isomers (fluoroamphetamine (FA), fluoromethamphetamine (FMA), and methylmethcathinone (MMC)) were analyzed using multiple GC-MS instruments at three distinct laboratories. A diverse assortment of instrument manufacturers, model types, and parameters was utilized in order to incorporate substantial instrumental variation. The dataset was randomly split into 70% training and 30% validation sets, stratified by instrument. Following an approach based on Design of Experiments, the validation set was used to optimize the preprocessing steps performed prior to Linear Discriminant Analysis. Using the optimized model, a minimum m/z fragment threshold was determined to allow analysts to assess whether an unknown spectrum is of sufficient abundance and quality to be compared to the model. To assess the robustness of the models, a test set was developed utilizing two instruments from a fourth laboratory that was not involved in the generation of the primary dataset in addition to spectra from widely used mass spectral libraries. Of the spectra that reached the threshold, the classification accuracy was 100% for all three isomer types. Only two of the test and validation spectra that did not reach the threshold were misclassified. The results indicate that forensic illicit drug experts world-wide can use these models for robust NPS isomer identification on the basis of preprocessed mass spectral data without the need for acquiring reference drug standards and creating instrument specific GC-MS reference datasets. The continued robustness of the models could be ensured through international collaboration to collect data that captures all potential GC-MS instrumental variation encountered in forensic illicit drug analysis laboratories. This would allow every forensic institute to confidently assign isomeric structures without the need for additional chemical analysis.
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Corli G, Tirri M, Arfè R, Marchetti B, Bernardi T, Borsari M, Odoardi S, Mestria S, Strano-Rossi S, Neri M, Gaudio RM, Bilel S, Marti M. Pharmaco-Toxicological Effects of Atypical Synthetic Cathinone Mephtetramine (MTTA) in Mice: Possible Reasons for Its Brief Appearance over NPSs Scene. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13020161. [PMID: 36831704 PMCID: PMC9954072 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13020161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last year, NPSs have been steadily on the rise in the illicit drug market. Among these, synthetic cathinones seem to become increasingly popular among young adults, mainly because of their ability to replicate the effects of traditional psychostimulant drugs, such as cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines. However, scarce data are available about the in vivo pharmaco-toxicology of these new substances. To this end, this study focused on evaluation of effects induced by repeated administration of mephtetramine (MTTA 0.1-30 mg/kg i.p.) in mice. This atypical cathinone highlighted a sensorial (inhibition of visual and acoustic reflexes) and transient physiological parameter (decrease in breath rate and temperature) change in mice. Regarding motor activity, both a dose-dependent increase (accelerod test) and biphasic effect (drag and mobility time test) have been shown. In addition, blood and urine samples have been analysed to enrich the experimental featuring of the present study with reference to evaluation of potential toxicity related to consumption of MTTA. The latter analysis has particularly revealed important changes in blood cells count and blood and urine physicochemical profile after repeated treatment with this atypical cathinone. Moreover, MTTA induced histological changes in heart, kidney and liver samples, emphasizing its potential toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Corli
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Micaela Tirri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Raffaella Arfè
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Beatrice Marchetti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Tatiana Bernardi
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Prevention, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Martina Borsari
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sara Odoardi
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Mestria
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Sabina Strano-Rossi
- Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Margherita Neri
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Gaudio
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Sabrine Bilel
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Matteo Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center and University Center of Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Collaborative Center for the Italian National Early Warning System, Department of Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, 00186 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Facile synthesis of core–shell structured magnetic Fe 3O 4@SiO 2@Au molecularly imprinted polymers for high effective extraction and determination of 4-methylmethcathinone in human urine samples. E-POLYMERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/epoly-2022-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In this study, a novel material of core–shell structured magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (Fe3O4@SiO2@Au (FSA)-MIPs) was successfully prepared for the rapid and selective determination of 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone, 4-MMC). The adsorption capacity of FSA-MIPs is 34.7 mg·g−1 at 308 K, which is significantly higher than magnetic non-imprinted polymers profiting from the imprinting effect. The FSA-MIPs have a short equilibrium (20 min) and could be reused more than six times. Moreover, the selectivity coefficients of FSA-MIPs for 4-MMC, 3,4-dimethylmethcathinone, butylone, 4-ethylmethcathinone, acetylfentanyl, and methylene blue are 4.01, 5.65, 7.62, 12.30, and 20.87 respectively, further indicating the markedly enhanced binding selectivity of FSA-MIPs. As an adsorbent, the FSA-MIPs were successfully applied for effective extraction of 4-MMC in three human urine samples with the recovery rates ranging from 85.5–92.6%. The results confirmed that the FSA-MIPs have good prospects in the extraction and separation of synthetic cathinones, which is suitable for further application in the criminal sciences field.
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7
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Guilty by Dissociation: Part A: Development of a rapid Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC)-MS/MS methodology for the analysis of regioisomeric diphenidine-derived Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS). J Pharm Biomed Anal 2022; 216:114798. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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8
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Welz A, Koba M, Kośliński P, Siódmiak J. Comparison of LC-MS and LC-DAD Methods of Detecting Abused Piperazine Designer Drugs. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11071758. [PMID: 35407366 PMCID: PMC8999770 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11071758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Recreational use of piperazine designer drugs is a serious threat to human health. These compounds act on the body in a similar fashion to illegal drugs. They induce psychostimulatory effects as well as visual and auditory hallucinations to varying degrees. In many cases of poisoning and deaths, the presence of two or even several psychoactive substances have been demonstrated. Piperazine derivatives are often found in such mixtures and pose a great analytical problem during their identification. Additionally, some piperazine derivatives can be detected in biological material as a result of metabolic changes to related drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to correctly identify these compounds and ensure repeatability of determinations. This article presents a comparison of the methods used to detect abused piperazine designer drugs using liquid chromatography in combination with a diode-array detector (LC-DAD) or mass spectrometer (LC-MS). Each of methods can be used independently for determinations, obtaining reliable results in a short time of analysis. These methods can also complement each other, providing qualitative and quantitative confirmation of results. The proposed methods provide analytical confirmation of poisoning and may be helpful in toxicological diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Welz
- Department of Toxicology and Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-089 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (M.K.); (P.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Marcin Koba
- Department of Toxicology and Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-089 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (M.K.); (P.K.)
| | - Piotr Kośliński
- Department of Toxicology and Bromatology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-089 Bydgoszcz, Poland; (M.K.); (P.K.)
| | - Joanna Siódmiak
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland;
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Goncalves R, Pelletier R, Couette A, Gicquel T, Le Daré B. Suitability of high-resolution mass spectrometry in analytical toxicology: Focus on drugs of abuse. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Chen H, Wu F, Xu Y, Liu Y, Song L, Chen X, He Q, Liu W, Han Q, Zhang Z, Zou Y, Liu W. Synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of selective molecularly imprinted polymers for the fast determination of synthetic cathinones. RSC Adv 2021; 11:29752-29761. [PMID: 35492065 PMCID: PMC9044941 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra01330k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
As a kind of new psychoactive substance (NPS), synthetic cathinones have drawn great worldwide attention. In this study, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), as adsorbents for the extraction and determination of 4-methyldimethcathinone (4-MDMC), were first synthesized by coprecipitation polymerization. The physicochemical analyses of MIPs were successfully performed by XRD, FTIR, FESEM and TGA techniques. Furthermore, rebinding properties of temperature and pH dependence, and selectivity and reusability tests for MIPs and non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) were performed using an ultraviolet-visible spectrometer (UV-vis). The obtained results indicate that the imprinting efficiency has strong dependence on temperature and pH, and the optimal adsorption for targets is achieved under the condition of 318 K and pH = 6.0. This means that the combination between the polymers and 4-MDMC is a strong spontaneous and endothermic process. Compared with NIPs, MIPs exhibit prominent adsorption capacity (Qe = 9.77 mg g−1, 318 K). The selectivity coefficients (k) of MIPs for 4-MDMC, methylenedioxypentedrone (βk-MBDP), 4-ethylmethcathinone (4-EMC), methoxetamine (MXE) and tetrahydrofuranylfentanyl (THF-F) were found to be 1.70, 3.49, 7.14 and 5.82, respectively. Moreover, it was found that the adsorption equilibrium was achieved within 30 min. The aim of this work is the simple synthesis of MIPs and the optimal performance of the molecular recognition of 4-MDMC. Moreover, the synthesized MIPs can be easily regenerated and repeatedly used with negligible loss of efficiency (only 9.94% loss after six times adsorption–desorption tests). Satisfying recoveries in the range of 69.3–78.9% indicate that MIPs have good applicability for analyte removal from urine samples. Ultimately, this material shows great promise for the rapid extraction and separation of synthetic cathinones, which are dissolved in the liquid for the field of criminal sciences. Molecularly imprinted polymers, as an adsorbent for extraction and selective recognition of 4-methyldimethcathinone, were firstly synthesized through coprecipitation polymerization.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Fangsheng Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Yibing Xu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Yuan Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Lun Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Xiujuan Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Qun He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Wei Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Qiaoying Han
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Zihua Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Yun Zou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology 803 Zhongshan North 1st Road Shanghai 200083 P. R. China +86-21-22028361 +86-21-22028361.,Shanghai Yuansi Standard Science and Technology Co., Ltd. 196 Ouyang Road Shanghai 200080 P. R. China
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11
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Fabregat-Safont D, Sancho JV, Hernández F, Ibáñez M. The key role of mass spectrometry in comprehensive research on new psychoactive substances. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2021; 56:e4673. [PMID: 33155376 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a wide group of compounds that try to mimic the effects produced by the 'classical' illicit drugs, including cannabis (synthetic cannabinoids), cocaine and amphetamines (synthetic cathinones) or heroin (synthetic opioids), and which health effects are still unknown for most of them. Nowadays, more than 700 compounds are being monitored by official organisms, some of which have been recently identified in seizures and/or intoxication cases. Toxicological analysis plays a pivotal role in NPS research. A comprehensive investigation on NPS, from the first identification of a novel substance until its detection in drug users to help in diagnostics and medical treatment, requires the use of a wide variety of instruments and analytical strategies. This paper illustrates the key role of mass spectrometry (MS) along a comprehensive investigation on NPS. The synthetic cannabinoid XLR-11 and the synthetic cathinone 5-PPDi have been chosen as representative substances of the most consumed NPS families. Moreover, both compounds have been investigated at our laboratory in different stages of the three-step strategy considered in this article. The initial identification and characterisation of the compound in consumption products, the first reported metabolic pathway and the development of analytical methodologies for its determination (and/or their metabolites) in different toxicological samples are described. The analytical strategies and MS instruments are briefly discussed to show the reader the possibilities that MS instrumentation offer to analytical scientists. This publication aims to be a starting point for those interested on the NPS research field from an analytical chemistry point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Fabregat-Safont
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, Castellón, 12071, Spain
| | - Juan V Sancho
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, Castellón, 12071, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, Castellón, 12071, Spain
| | - María Ibáñez
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Avda. Sos Baynat s/n, Castellón, 12071, Spain
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Mestria S, Odoardi S, Federici S, Bilel S, Tirri M, Marti M, Strano Rossi S. Metabolism Study of N-Methyl 2-Aminoindane (NM2AI) and Determination of Metabolites in Biological Samples by LC-HRMS. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 45:475-483. [PMID: 32860694 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the widespread diffusion of new psychoactive substances, forensic laboratories are often required to identify new drugs and their metabolites for which information or reference standards are lacking. We performed a study on N-methyl-2-aminoindane (NM2AI) metabolism in silico and in vivo, in order to identify the main metabolites to be screened in the different biological samples. We performed the in silico metabolism prediction of NM2AI using MetaSiteTM software and subsequently verified the presence of metabolites in the blood, urine and hair of mice after NM2AI administration. The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) with a benchtop Orbitrap Exactive mass detector. This allowed the evaluation of the agreement between software prediction and experimental results in biological samples. LC-HRMS analysis identified seven main metabolites in the urine. They were identified, by their accurate masses and fragmentation patterns, as 2-aminoindane (2AI), two hydroxy-2AI and four hydroxy-NM2AI; one of the hydroxy-NM2AI and one of the hydroxy-2AI underwent also to conjugation. NM2AI and 2AI were also detected by LC-HRMS in the hair and blood. Based on these findings, we developed an LC-HRMS method for the screening of NM2AI and metabolites in urine, blood and hair samples. This can be of primary effectiveness to uncover the abuse of NM2AI and related possible intoxications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Mestria
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Odoardi
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sofia Federici
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabrine Bilel
- Department of Morphology, Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Micaela Tirri
- Department of Morphology, Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Matteo Marti
- Department of Morphology, Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Collaborative Center for the Italian National Early Warning System, Department of Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy
| | - Sabina Strano Rossi
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Collaborative Center for the Italian National Early Warning System, Department of Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Italy
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13
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Odoardi S, Mestria S, Biosa G, Arfè R, Tirri M, Marti M, Strano Rossi S. Metabolism study and toxicological determination of mephtetramine in biological samples by liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Drug Test Anal 2021; 13:1516-1526. [PMID: 33835674 PMCID: PMC8453881 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The emerging market of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) is a global‐scale phenomenon, and their identification in biological samples is challenging because of the lack of information about their metabolism and pharmacokinetic. In this study, we performed in silico metabolic pathway prediction and in vivo metabolism experiments, in order to identify the main metabolites of mephtetramine (MTTA), an NPS found in seizures since 2013. MetaSite™ software was used for in silico metabolism predictions and subsequently the presence of metabolites in the blood, urine, and hair of mice after MTTA administration was verified. The biological samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS) using a benchtop Orbitrap instrument. This confirmed the concordance between software prediction and experimental results in biological samples. The metabolites were identified by their accurate masses and fragmentation patterns. LC–HRMS analysis identified the dehydrogenated and demethylated‐dehydrogenated metabolites, together with unmodified MTTA in the blood samples. Besides unmodified MTTA, 10 main metabolites were detected in urine. In hair samples, only demethyl MTTA was detected along with MTTA. The combination of Metasite™ prediction and in vivo experiment was a powerful tool for studying MTTA metabolism. This approach enabled the development of the analytical method for the detection of MTTA and its main metabolites in biological samples. The development of analytical methods for the identification of new drugs and their main metabolites is extremely useful for the detection of NPS in biological specimens. Indeed, high throughput methods are precious to uncover the actual extent of use of NPS and their toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Odoardi
- Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Mestria
- Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Biosa
- Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaella Arfè
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Micaela Tirri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Matteo Marti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine and LTTA Centre, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Collaborative Center for the Italian National Early Warning System, Department of Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabina Strano Rossi
- Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Collaborative Center for the Italian National Early Warning System, Department of Anti-Drug Policies, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Rome, Italy
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Castaing-Cordier T, Ladroue V, Besacier F, Bulete A, Jacquemin D, Giraudeau P, Farjon J. High-field and benchtop NMR spectroscopy for the characterization of new psychoactive substances. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 321:110718. [PMID: 33601154 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPS) have become a serious threat to public health in Europe due to their ability to be sold in the street or on the darknet. Regulating NPS is an urgent priority but comes with a number of analytical challenges since they are structurally similar to legal products. A number of analytical techniques can be used for identifying NPS, among which NMR spectroscopy is a gold standard. High field NMR is typically used for structural elucidation in combination with others techniques like GC-MS, Infrared spectroscopy, together with databases. In addition to their strong ability to elucidate molecular structures, high field NMR techniques are the gold standard for quantification without any physical isolation procedure and with a single internal standard. However, high field NMR remains expensive and emerging "benchtop" NMR apparatus which are cheaper and transportable can be considered as valuable alternatives to high field NMR. Indeed, benchtop NMR, which emerged about ten years ago, makes it possible to carry out structural elucidation and quantification of NPS despite the gap in resolution and sensitivity as compared to high field NMR. This review describes recent advances in the field of NMR applied to the characterization of NPS. High-field NMR methods are first described in view of their complementarity with other analytical methods, focusing on both structural and quantitative aspects. The second part of the review highlights how emerging benchtop NMR approaches could act as a game changer in the field of forensics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Virginie Ladroue
- Institut National de Police Scientifique (INPS), Laboratoire de Lyon (LPS69), Ecully 69134, France
| | - Fabrice Besacier
- Institut National de Police Scientifique (INPS), Laboratoire de Lyon (LPS69), Ecully 69134, France
| | - Audrey Bulete
- Institut National de Police Scientifique (INPS), Laboratoire de Lyon (LPS69), Ecully 69134, France
| | - Denis Jacquemin
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, CEISAM UMR 6230, Nantes F-44000, France
| | | | - Jonathan Farjon
- Université de Nantes, CNRS, CEISAM UMR 6230, Nantes F-44000, France.
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15
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Couto RAS, Coelho C, Mounssef B, Morais SFDA, Lima CD, dos Santos WTP, Carvalho F, Rodrigues CMP, Braga AAC, Gonçalves LM, Quinaz MB. 3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) Sensing Based on Electropolymerized Molecularly Imprinted Polymers on Silver Nanoparticles and Carboxylated Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:353. [PMID: 33535439 PMCID: PMC7912732 DOI: 10.3390/nano11020353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a harmful and controlled synthetic cathinone used as a psychostimulant drug and as sport-enhancing substance. A sensor was developed for the direct analysis of MDPV by transducing its oxidation signal by means of an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer (e-MIP) built in-situ on the screen-printed carbon electrode's (SPCE) surface previously covered with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Benzene-1,2-diamine was used as the functional monomer while the analyte was used as the template monomer. Each step of the sensor's development was studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in a solution containing ferricyanide, however no redox probe was required for the actual MDPV measurements. The interaction between the poly(o-phenylenediamine) imprinted polymer and MDPV was studied by density-functional theory (DFT) methods. The SPCE-MWCNT-AgNP-MIP sensor responded adequately to the variation of MDPV concentration. It was shown that AgNPs enhanced the electrochemical signal by around a 3-fold factor. Making use of square-wave voltammetry (SWV) the developed sensor provided a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.8 μmol L-1. The analytical performance of the proposed sensor paves the way to the development of a portable device for MDPV on-site sensing to be applied in forensic and doping analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A. S. Couto
- REQUIMTE, LAQV, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-213 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.S.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Constantino Coelho
- REQUIMTE, LAQV, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-213 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.S.C.); (C.C.)
| | - Bassim Mounssef
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil; (B.M.J.); (S.F.d.A.M.); (A.A.C.B.)
| | - Sara F. de A. Morais
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil; (B.M.J.); (S.F.d.A.M.); (A.A.C.B.)
| | - Camila D. Lima
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, MG 39100-000, Brazil;
| | - Wallans T. P. dos Santos
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, MG 39100-000, Brazil;
| | - Félix Carvalho
- REQUIMTE, UCIBIO, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-213 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Ataualpa A. C. Braga
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil; (B.M.J.); (S.F.d.A.M.); (A.A.C.B.)
| | - Luís Moreira Gonçalves
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil; (B.M.J.); (S.F.d.A.M.); (A.A.C.B.)
| | - M. Beatriz Quinaz
- REQUIMTE, LAQV, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-213 Porto, Portugal; (R.A.S.C.); (C.C.)
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Mestria S, Odoardi S, Frison G, Strano Rossi S. LC-HRMS characterization of the skin pigmentation and sexual enhancers melanotan II and bremelanotide sold on the black market of performance and image enhancing drugs. Drug Test Anal 2020; 13:876-882. [PMID: 33245851 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The spread of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) often requires forensic toxicology laboratories to identify unknown compounds without reference standards. We characterized the PIEDs melanotan II and bremelanotide, not legally marketed, in eight unknown samples confiscated by police together with anabolic steroids, hormone modulators, sexual enhancers and stimulants, intended for the black market of bodybuilders, using liquid chromatography-high resolution/high accuracy Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The characterization was carried out by the accurate mass measurements of MH+ ionic species, the study of their isotopic patterns and the associated relative isotopic abundance (RIA) values, as well as the accurate mass measurements of collision-induced product ions obtained in fragmentation experiments. LC-HRMS confirmed itself as a powerful analytical tool to elucidate the elemental composition and structural characteristics of unknown compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Mestria
- Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Odoardi
- Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giampietro Frison
- Laboratory of Environmental Hygiene and Forensic Toxicology, DMPO Department, AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Sabina Strano Rossi
- Department of Healthcare Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Feeney W, Moorthy AS, Sisco E. Spectral trends in GC-EI-MS data obtained from the SWGDRUG mass spectral library and literature: A resource for the identification of unknown compounds. Forensic Chem 2020; 31:10.1016/j.forc.2022.100459. [PMID: 36578315 PMCID: PMC9793444 DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2022.100459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Rapid identification of new or emerging psychoactive substances remains a critical challenge in forensic drug chemistry laboratories. Current analytical protocols are well-designed for confirmation of known substances yet struggle when new compounds are encountered. Many laboratories initially attempt to classify new compounds using gas chromatography-electron ionization-mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS). Though there is a large body of research focused on the analysis of illicit substances with GC-EI-MS, there is little high-level discussion of mass spectral trends for different classes of drugs. This manuscript compiles literature information and performs simple exploratory analyses on evaluated GC-EI-MS data to investigate mass spectral trends for illicit substance classes. Additionally, this work offers other important aspects: brief discussions of how each class of drugs is used; illustrations of EI mass spectra with proposed structures of commonly observed ions; and summaries of mass spectral trends that can help an analyst classify new illicit compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Feeney
- Corresponding author at: Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group, Material Measurement Laboratory, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA. (W. Feeney)
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Alexandridou A, Mouskeftara T, Raikos N, Gika HG. GC-MS analysis of underivatised new psychoactive substances in whole blood and urine. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2020; 1156:122308. [PMID: 33038866 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Herein a method was develop and validated for the detection and quantification of five new psychoactive substances (NPS) belonging to three categories: synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, 3,4-MDPV), opioids (AH-7921) and cannabinoids (JWH-018, AM-2201) by EI GC-MS. Target analytes were quantified in whole blood; in urine the same compounds plus methylone were detected. Liquid-liquid extraction by MTBE - butyl acetate (1:1, v/v) in blood and butyl acetate in urine was applied for the recovery of analytes, while no derivatization was necessary for their sensitive detection and quantification. The method showed good linearity for all analytes within a concentration range from 0.25 to 2 μg/mL for mephedrone, from 0.02 to 0.16 μg/mL for 3,4-MDPV and AH-7921 and from 0.005 to 0.04 μg/mL for JWH-018 and AM-2201. LOD ranged from 0.002 μg/mL (JWH-018 and AM-2201 in blood and urine), to 0.08 μg/mL (mephedrone in urine). LOQ in blood ranged from 0.005 μg/mL for JWH-018 and AM-2201 to 0.25 μg/mL for mephedrone. Accuracy was within acceptable limits with % bias ranging from +20% to -17.98% for intra-assay study and from +18.87% to -11.16% for inter-assay study. Precision was found to be between 2.60% and 17.17% (CV%) for intra-assay study and from 6.03% to 13.72% (CV%) for inter-assay study. An intra laboratory comparison provided proof of the method robustness. The developed method can be used for the reliable and fast quantification of five NPS in blood and the detection of six NPS in urine within the practice of a clinical or forensic toxicology laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Alexandridou
- Department of Chemistry, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Thomai Mouskeftara
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; BIOMIC_AUTH, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikolaos Raikos
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; BIOMIC_AUTH, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Helen G Gika
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; BIOMIC_AUTH, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece
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Odoardi S, Mestria S, Biosa G, Valentini V, Federici S, Strano Rossi S. An overview on performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) confiscated in Italy in the period 2017-2019. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2020; 59:47-52. [PMID: 32475176 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2020.1770277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The illegal market of counterfeit and falsified medicines and supplements containing unlabeled pharmaceuticals is expanding worldwide. They are usually referred to by the term "performance and image enhancing drugs" (PIEDs) and are mainly steroids, stimulants, hormones, and drugs for erectile dysfunction. PIEDs are easily accessible through the online or black markets. We analyzed over 400 such medicines confiscated in Italy in the period 2017-2019, to determine their composition. METHODS Confiscated products were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry, in order to ascertain their composition and to evaluate the correspondence between what was declared on the label and the actual content, or to identify unknown products. RESULTS The most commonly found substance was anabolic steroids, found in 64% of products, with 11% containing hormone modulators, 6% stimulants, 6% sexual enhancers (mainly sildenafil) and other drugs, including thyroid hormones, melanin stimulators, and vitamins. These substances were often in mixtures. The products were often mislabeled, containing contaminants in addition to the drug declared, or consisted of a drug completely different from the one reported on the label. Fifteen percent of products had a qualitative composition completely different from that declared, while 10% of products showed cross-contamination with other drugs, mainly testosterone esters, probably due to the presence of residues of other drugs in the production line. In addition, 11% of products were not labeled, so their purported composition was unknown. DISCUSSION PIEDs pose a threat to public health. The main risks are related to the intrinsic toxicity of the substances found, especially when taken without a therapeutic indication. Another issue is related to the mislabeling of the fake medicines, and the poor-quality standard of counterfeit product preparation, with additional risks of the presence of other toxic ingredients or microbial contamination. CONCLUSIONS The use of counterfeit products is a public health concern, as it constitutes a high risk for consumer health. It is mainly caused by the uncontrolled use of steroids, stimulants, sexual enhancers, and other medicaments, without medical indication or supervision, with variable and unknown compositions and doses, as well as other contaminants as a result of the absence of good manufacturing practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Odoardi
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Serena Mestria
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Biosa
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Valentini
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sofia Federici
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sabina Strano Rossi
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore F. Policlinico Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Anzillotti L, Marezza F, Calò L, Banchini A, Cecchi R. A case report positive for synthetic cannabinoids: are cardiovascular effects related to their protracted use? Leg Med (Tokyo) 2019; 41:101637. [PMID: 31683096 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2019.101637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of synthetic cannabinoids is being increasingly recognised worldwide, but the chemical compositions and physiological effects of these drugs are poorly characterised and are continually changing. New substances are constantly being added to the content of synthetic cannabinoids and they are rarely identified on toxicological screening tests. Due to their structures synthetic cannabinoids and their effects have been compared to the psychoactive compound, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), found in marijuana. On the molecular level, they are potent cannabinoid receptor agonists that also may have affinity for other types of receptors such as those on platelets. Reported symptoms of toxicity include anxiety, agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, tachycardia, hypertension, excessive sweating, nausea, and vomiting. They can also be linked to serious adverse cardiovascular events and can affect the cardiovascular system causing hypotension and bradycardia, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, prolonged QTc, and Mobitz type II atrioventricular block, as well as interfere with the aggregation of platelets. We present a case report of a cardiac tamponade with toxicological findings positive for synthetic cannabinoids. This case highlights the importance of testing routinely for novel psychoactive compounds, and recognising their potential to cause life-threatening conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Anzillotti
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Parma, Via A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
| | - Francesca Marezza
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Parma, Via A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
| | - Luca Calò
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Parma, Via A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
| | - Antonio Banchini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Parma, Via A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
| | - Rossana Cecchi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Parma, Via A. Gramsci 14, 43126 Parma, Italy.
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Identification of synthetic cannabinoids that were seized, consumed, or associated with deaths in Kuwait in 2018 using GC-MS and LC-MS-MS analysis. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 303:109960. [PMID: 31550599 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 08/31/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoids are gaining much popularity worldwide. Although the death rate associated with their use is rising, these drugs are the largest and fastest growing class of novel psychoactive substances. Despite increased concerns regarding adverse effects stemming from the use of synthetic cannabinoids, there is no published data on the subject for the Gulf region or Kuwait, specifically. The current study investigates the diversity of synthetic cannabinoids in Kuwait in 2018. In total, 434 cases from the Narcotics and Psychotropic Laboratory, 70 cases from the Toxicology Laboratory, and six cases from the Forensic Medicine Department were reviewed and analyzed. Numerous synthetic cannabinoid types were identified using GC-MS and LC-MS-MS. The majority of synthetic cannabinoids were members of the indazole-3-carboxamide or indole-3-carboxamide families. Members from the indazole-3-carboxamide family identified in Kuwait were 5F-ADB, FUB-AMB, ADB-FUBINACA, AB-FUBINACA, 5F-ADB-PINACA, 5F-AKB-48, 5Cl-AKB-48, MDMB-FUBINACA, 5F-AB-PINACA, APINACA, and AB-PINACA whereas MDMB-CHMICA, 5F-MDMB-PICA, ADB-BICA, and MMB-CHMICA belonged to the indole-3-carboxamide family. In addition, members of other families were identified, including CBL2201 and UR-144, which belonged to indole-3-carboxylate and cyclopropylindole families, respectively. The most common synthetic cannabinoids were 5F-ADB, FUB-AMB, and 5Cl-AKB-48. Various mixes of two, three, or four types of synthetic cannabinoids were identified, and mixtures of synthetic cannabinoids with other illicit drugs were also present. Our findings show that in Kuwait, the most common mix of synthetic cannabinoids is FUB-AMB with 5F-ADB. These two types were mixed, either together or individually, with methamphetamine, tramadol, heroin, Δ9THC, and ketamine. Most importantly, our results reveal the synthetic cannabinoid types that were associated with six reported deaths.
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22
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Cheng WC, Wong WC. Forensic drug analysis of chloro-N,N-dimethylcathinone (CDC) and chloroethcathinone (CEC): Identification of 4-CDC and 4-CEC in drug seizures and differentiation from their ring-substituted positional isomers. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 298:268-277. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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23
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Deconinck E, Van Campenhout R, Aouadi C, Canfyn M, Bothy J, Gremeaux L, Blanckaert P, Courselle P. Combining attenuated total reflectance- infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics for the identification and the dosage estimation of MDMA tablets. Talanta 2019; 195:142-151. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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24
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Roque Bravo R, Carmo H, Carvalho F, Bastos MDL, Dias da Silva D. Benzo fury: A new trend in the drug misuse scene. J Appl Toxicol 2019; 39:1083-1095. [PMID: 30723925 DOI: 10.1002/jat.3774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Benzofurans, also known by users as benzo fury or benzofury, are synthetic phenethylamines and constitute the third most prominent group of new psychoactive substances (NPS). As the use of these substances has been spread as an alternative to the classic illicit psychostimulants, such as amphetamines, their legal status was reviewed, resulting in an utter prohibition of these NPS in many countries worldwide. Herein, the prevalence of abuse, chemistry, biological effects, metabolism, and the potential harms and risky behaviors associated with the abuse of benzofurans are reviewed. The congeners of this group are mainly consumed recreationally at electronic dance music parties, in polydrug abuse settings. Benzofurans preferentially act by disturbing the functioning of serotonergic circuits, which induces their entactogenic and stimulant effects and is the reason behind the considerable number of recent benzo fury-related deaths. The slight interaction of these drugs with the dopaminergic system justifies the rewarding effects of these drugs. To date, published evidence on the mechanisms of toxicity of benzo fury is very limited but a body of research is now beginning to emerge revealing an alarming public health threat regarding the abuse of these NPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Roque Bravo
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Helena Carmo
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Félix Carvalho
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Maria de Lourdes Bastos
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
| | - Diana Dias da Silva
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, Porto, 4050-313, Portugal
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The novel psychoactive substance 3-methylmethcathinone (3-MMC or metaphedrone): A review. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 295:54-63. [PMID: 30572220 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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26
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Göl E, Çok I. New psychoactive substances in Turkey: Narcotics cases assessed by the Council of Forensic Medicine between 2016 and 2017 in Ankara, Turkey. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 294:113-123. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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27
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Duffy J, Urbas A, Niemitz M, Lippa K, Marginean I. Differentiation of fentanyl analogues by low-field NMR spectroscopy. Anal Chim Acta 2018; 1049:161-169. [PMID: 30612647 DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Forensic laboratories commonly receive new psychoactive substances such as fentanyl analogues and other synthetic opioids that are difficult to identify. Slight changes to chemical structures, e.g. shifting the position of functional groups such as methyl groups or halogens on the aromatic ring, may not be distinguished using traditional methods. NMR is a powerful tool used to elucidate distinctive structural information needed to differentiate regioisomers. However, the cost, size, and cryogen maintenance of superconducting NMR spectrometers can be impractical for some forensic laboratories. Recent studies have shown potential applications of low-field NMR as an alternative in forensic drug analysis. These benchtop, semi-portable instruments are less costly, have a smaller footprint, do not use cryogens, and require little maintenance. In this study, we show that 65 fentanyl and related substances, including various types of positional isomers, were readily differentiated using low-field (62 MHz) 1H NMR spectroscopy. In addition, the use of quantum mechanical spin system analysis was investigated for the purposes of translating experimentally observed high-field 1H spectra to lower field strengths. Spin system analysis of 600 MHz NMR spectra was conducted on a subset (15) of the reference materials analyzed. The results were used to calculate 62 MHz spectra for comparison purposes with the experimental spectra. This was successfully demonstrated, showing that field-strength independent 1H NMR spectral libraries are feasible and can facilitate reference material data dissemination across forensic drug laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Duffy
- Department of Forensic Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Aaron Urbas
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
| | | | - Katrice Lippa
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Ioan Marginean
- Department of Forensic Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
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Rapid tentative identification of synthetic cathinones in seized products taking advantage of the full capabilities of triple quadrupole analyzer. Forensic Toxicol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-018-0432-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Katselou M, Papoutsis I, Nikolaou P, Misailidi N, Spiliopoulou C, Athanaselis S. Diphenidine: a dissociative NPS makes an entrance on the drug scene. Forensic Toxicol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-018-0421-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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30
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Receptor binding profiles and behavioral pharmacology of ring-substituted N,N-diallyltryptamine analogs. Neuropharmacology 2018; 142:231-239. [PMID: 29499272 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2018.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Substantial effort has been devoted toward understanding the psychopharmacological effects of tryptamine hallucinogens, which are thought to be mediated by activation of 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors. Recently, several psychoactive tryptamines based on the N,N-diallyltryptamine (DALT) scaffold have been encountered as recreational drugs. Despite the apparent widespread use of DALT derivatives in humans, little is known about their pharmacological properties. We compared the binding affinities of DALT and its 2-phenyl-, 4-acetoxy-, 4-hydroxy-, 5-methoxy-, 5-methoxy-2-methyl-, 5-fluoro-, 5-fluoro-2-methyl-, 5-bromo-, and 7-ethyl-derivatives at 45 receptor and transporter binding sites. Additionally, studies in C57BL/6 J mice examined whether these substances induce the head twitch response (HTR), a 5-HT2A receptor-mediated response that is widely used as a behavioral proxy for hallucinogen effects in humans. Most of the test drugs bound to serotonin receptors, σ sites, α2-adrenoceptors, dopaminergic D3 receptors, histaminergic H1 receptors, and the serotonin transporter. DALT and several of the ring-substituted derivatives were active in the HTR assay with the following rank order of potency: 4-acetoxy-DALT > 5-fluoro-DALT > 5-methoxy-DALT > 4-hydroxy-DALT > DALT > 5-bromo-DALT. 2-Phenyl-DALT, 5-methoxy-2-methyl-DALT, 5-fluoro-2-methyl-DALT, and 7-ethyl-DALT did not induce the HTR. HTR potency was not correlated with either 5-HT1A or 5-HT2A receptor binding affinity, but a multiple regression analysis indicated that 5-HT2A and 5-HT1A receptors make positive and negative contributions, respectively, to HTR potency (R2 = 0.8729). In addition to supporting the established role of 5-HT2A receptors in the HTR, these findings are consistent with evidence that 5-HT1A activation by tryptamine hallucinogens buffers their effects on HTR. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'Psychedelics: New Doors, Altered Perceptions'.
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Philp M, Shimmon R, Tahtouh M, Fu S. Color Spot Test As a Presumptive Tool for the Rapid Detection of Synthetic Cathinones. J Vis Exp 2018:57045. [PMID: 29443096 PMCID: PMC5912360 DOI: 10.3791/57045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones are a large class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) that are increasingly prevalent in drug seizures made by law enforcement and other border protection agencies globally. Color testing is a presumptive identification technique indicating the presence or absence of a particular drug class using rapid and uncomplicated chemical methods. Owing to their relatively recent emergence, a color test for the specific identification of synthetic cathinones is not currently available. In this study, we introduce a protocol for the presumptive identification of synthetic cathinones, employing three aqueous reagent solutions: copper(II) nitrate, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine) and sodium acetate. Small pin-head sized amounts (approximately 0.1-0.2 mg) of the suspected drugs are added to the wells of a porcelain spot plate, and each reagent is then added dropwise sequentially before heating on a hotplate. A color change from very light blue to yellow-orange after 10 min indicates the likely presence of synthetic cathinones. The highly stable and specific test reagent has the potential for use in the presumptive screening of unknown samples for synthetic cathinones in a forensic laboratory. However, the nuisance of an added heating step for the color change result limits the test to laboratory application and decreases the likelihood of an easy translation to field testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Philp
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
| | - Ronald Shimmon
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
| | | | - Shanlin Fu
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney (UTS);
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Abstract
This chapter will summarize structure-activity relationships (SAR) that are known for the classic serotonergic hallucinogens (aka psychedelics), focusing on the three chemical types: tryptamines, ergolines, and phenethylamines. In the brain, the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor plays a key role in regulation of cortical function and cognition, and also appears to be the principal target for hallucinogenic/psychedelic drugs such as LSD. It is one of the most extensively studied of the 14 known types of serotonin receptors. Important structural features will be identified for activity and, where possible, those that the psychedelics have in common will be discussed. Because activation of the 5-HT2A receptor is the principal mechanism of action for psychedelics, compounds with 5-HT2A agonist activity generally are quickly discarded by the pharmaceutical industry. Thus, most of the research on psychedelics can be related to activation of 5-HT2A receptors. Therefore, much of the discussion will include not only clinical or anecdotal studies, but also will consider data from animal models as well as a certain amount of molecular pharmacology where it is known.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Nichols
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA.
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Guillou C, Reniero F, Vicente JL, Holland M, Kolar K, Chassaigne H, Tirendi S, Schepers H. Collaboration of the Joint Research Centre and European Customs Laboratories for the Identification of New Psychoactive Substances. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2018; 19:91-98. [PMID: 29792142 PMCID: PMC6110040 DOI: 10.2174/1389201019666180523122717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of psychoactive designer drugs has significantly increased over the last few years. Customs officials are responsible for the control of products entering the European Union (EU) market. This control applies to chemicals in general, pharmaceutical products and medicines. Numerous products imported from non-EU countries, often declared as 'bath salts' or 'fertilizers', contain new psychoactive substance (NPS). REVIEW These are not necessarily controlled under international law, but may be subject to monitoring in agreement with EU legislation. This situation imposes substantial challenges, for example, for the maintenance of spectral libraries used for their detection by designated laboratories. The chemical identification of new substances, with the use of powerful instrumentation, and the time needed for detailed analysis and interpretation of the results, demands considerable commitment. The EU Joint Research Centre endeavors to provide scientific support to EU Customs laboratories to facilitate rapid identification and characterisation of seized samples. In addition to analysing known NPS, several new chemical entities have also been identified. Frequently, these belong to NPS classes already notified to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) by the European Early- Warning System (EWS). CONCLUSION The aim of this paper is to discuss the implementation of workflow mechanisms that are in place in order to facilitate the monitoring, communication and management of analytical data. The rapid dissemination of this information between control authorities strives to help protect EU citizens against the health risks posed by harmful substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Guillou
- Address correspondence to this author at the European Commission, Directorate General Joint Research Centre, Directorate F - Health, Consumers and Reference Materials via E. Fermi, 2749, I-21020 Ispra (VA) - Italy; Tel: +39 0332 785678; E-mail:
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Philp M, Fu S. A review of chemical ‘spot’ tests: A presumptive illicit drug identification technique. Drug Test Anal 2017; 10:95-108. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Philp
- Centre for Forensic Science, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences; University of Technology Sydney (UTS); Australia
| | - Shanlin Fu
- Centre for Forensic Science, School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences; University of Technology Sydney (UTS); Australia
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Solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry to determine synthetic cathinones in different types of environmental water samples. J Chromatogr A 2017; 1524:66-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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36
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Cross-reactivity of selected benzofurans with commercial amphetamine and ecstasy immunoassays in urine. Bioanalysis 2017; 9:1771-1785. [DOI: 10.4155/bio-2017-0191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to perform a cross-reactivity investigation of six benzofurans with immunoassays (IAs) screening tests for amphetamines and ecstasy in urine samples. Methods: The following benzofuranes were investigated: 5-(2-Methylaminopropyl)Benzofuran (5-MAPB), 5-(2-methylaminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (5-MAPDB), 5-(2-Aminopropyl)-Benzofuran (5-APB), 5-(2-Aminopropyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (5-APDB), 5-(2-Ethylaminopropyl)Benzofuran (5-EAPB) and 5-(2-Aminoethyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (5-AEDB). The study was performed with urine-free spiked samples and authentic urine samples using eight different IAs for amphetamines and ecstasy. Results: All evaluated benzofurans showed cross-reactivity in some of the IAs tested, except for 5-AEDB. Urine samples of an intoxication case involving 5-MAPB, 5-APB and 5-EAPB were also positives in the IAs tested. Conclusion: There is an important variability in the cross-reactivity of the IAs for amphetamine and ecstasy caused by benzofurans depending on the immunoassay employed and the tested compounds.
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Assessment of types of synthetic cannabinoids in narcotic cases assessed by the Council of Forensic Medicine between 2011–2015, Ankara, Turkey. Forensic Sci Int 2017; 280:124-129. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 09/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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38
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Materazzi S, Peluso G, Ripani L, Risoluti R. High-throughput prediction of AKB48 in emerging illicit products by NIR spectroscopy and chemometrics. Microchem J 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2017.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Smolianitski-Fabian E, Cohen E, Dronova M, Voloshenko-Rossin A, Lev O. Discrimination between closely related synthetic cannabinoids by GC-Cold-EI-MS. Drug Test Anal 2017; 10:474-487. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Evgeny Smolianitski-Fabian
- Casali Center of Applied Chemistry, The Institute of Chemistry; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Israel
| | - Etia Cohen
- Analytical Laboratory, Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS), Israel Police, National HQ; Jerusalem Israel
| | - Marina Dronova
- Casali Center of Applied Chemistry, The Institute of Chemistry; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Israel
| | - Anna Voloshenko-Rossin
- Casali Center of Applied Chemistry, The Institute of Chemistry; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Israel
| | - Ovadia Lev
- Casali Center of Applied Chemistry, The Institute of Chemistry; The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Israel
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Odoardi S, Valentini V, De Giovanni N, Pascali VL, Strano-Rossi S. High-throughput screening for drugs of abuse and pharmaceutical drugs in hair by liquid-chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Microchem J 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2017.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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41
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Current applications of high-resolution mass spectrometry for the analysis of new psychoactive substances: a critical review. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0441-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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42
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Fabregat-Safont D, Fornís I, Ventura M, Gil C, Calzada N, Sancho J, Hernández F, Ibáñez M. Identification and characterization of a putative new psychoactive substance, 2-(2-(4-chlorophenyl)acetamido)-3-methylbutanamide, in Spain. Drug Test Anal 2017; 9:1073-1080. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Fabregat-Safont
- Research Institute for Pesticides and Water; University Jaume I; Avda Sos Baynat s/n 12071 Castellón Spain
| | - I. Fornís
- Energy Control (Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo); c/ Independencia 384 08041 Barcelona Spain
| | - M. Ventura
- Energy Control (Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo); c/ Independencia 384 08041 Barcelona Spain
| | - C. Gil
- Energy Control (Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo); c/ Independencia 384 08041 Barcelona Spain
| | - N. Calzada
- Energy Control (Asociación Bienestar y Desarrollo); c/ Independencia 384 08041 Barcelona Spain
| | - J.V. Sancho
- Research Institute for Pesticides and Water; University Jaume I; Avda Sos Baynat s/n 12071 Castellón Spain
| | - F. Hernández
- Research Institute for Pesticides and Water; University Jaume I; Avda Sos Baynat s/n 12071 Castellón Spain
| | - M. Ibáñez
- Research Institute for Pesticides and Water; University Jaume I; Avda Sos Baynat s/n 12071 Castellón Spain
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Alvarez JC, Fabresse N, Knapp A, El Hajj Sleiman I, Garnier R, Langrand J. Identification and quantification of diphenidine in hair by LC-MS/MS after single administration. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2016.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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44
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Development of an enantioseparation method for novel psychoactive drugs by HPLC using a Lux ® Cellulose-2 column in polar organic phase mode. Forensic Sci Int 2017; 270:232-240. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 10/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Kinyua J, Negreira N, Miserez B, Causanilles A, Emke E, Gremeaux L, de Voogt P, Ramsey J, Covaci A, van Nuijs ALN. Qualitative screening of new psychoactive substances in pooled urine samples from Belgium and United Kingdom. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 573:1527-1535. [PMID: 27575425 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Concerns about new psychoactive substances (NPS) are increasing due to the rising frequency of serious intoxications. Analysis of biological fluids (urine) is necessary to get reliable information about the use of these substances. However, it is a challenging task due to the lack of analytical standards and the dynamic character of the NPS market. In the present work, a qualitative screening of NPS was carried out in 23 pooled urine samples collected from a city center in the UK and festivals in the UK and Belgium. The analytical method was based on data-independent acquisition mode using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. An in-house library was used with >1500 entries corresponding to NPS, classical drugs and metabolites. All samples contained 53 and 28 compounds of interest from the UK and Belgium respectively. Of the different compounds detected, about 70% were confirmed using retention time and product ions while the remaining compounds were identified using elucidated fragmentation pathways. The highest numbers of NPS identified in both countries were from the cathinone and phenylethylamine families, with a higher number being detected in samples from the festival in the UK. Moreover, several cathinone metabolites in human urine were detected and identified. The screening method proved useful to detect a large number of compounds and determine the use of NPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliet Kinyua
- Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Noelia Negreira
- Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bram Miserez
- TICTAC Communications Ltd., St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW170RE, United Kingdom
| | - Ana Causanilles
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Chemical Water Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Emke
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Chemical Water Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
| | - Lies Gremeaux
- Programme Drugs, Operational Direction of Public health and Surveillance, Scientific Institute for Public Health, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pim de Voogt
- KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Chemical Water Quality and Health, P.O. Box 1072, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands; Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94248, 1090 GE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John Ramsey
- TICTAC Communications Ltd., St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW170RE, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Alexander L N van Nuijs
- Toxicological Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Campus Drie Eiken, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium.
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Guilty by dissociation—development of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and other rapid screening methods for the analysis of 13 diphenidine-derived new psychoactive substances (NPSs). Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 408:8467-8481. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9969-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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González-Mariño I, Gracia-Lor E, Rousis NI, Castrignanò E, Thomas KV, Quintana JB, Kasprzyk-Hordern B, Zuccato E, Castiglioni S. Wastewater-Based Epidemiology To Monitor Synthetic Cathinones Use in Different European Countries. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:10089-96. [PMID: 27491628 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones are among the most consumed new psychoactive substances (NPS), but their increasing number and interchangeable market make it difficult to estimate the real size of their consumption. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) through the analysis of metabolic residues of these substances in urban wastewater can provide this information. This study applied WBE for the first time to investigate the presence of 17 synthetic cathinones in four European countries. A method based on solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was developed, validated, and used to quantify the target analytes. Seven substances were found, with mephedrone and methcathinone being the most frequently detected and none of the analytes being found in Norway. Population-normalized loads were used to evaluate the pattern of use, which indicated a higher consumption in the U.K., followed by Spain and Italy, in line with the European prevalence data from population surveys. In the U.K., where an entire week was investigated, an increase of the loads was found during the weekend, indicating a preferential use in recreational contexts. This study demonstrated that WBE can be a useful additional tool to monitor the use of NPS in a population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iria González-Mariño
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" (IRCCS) , Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute for Food Analysis and Research (IIAA), University of Santiago de Compostela , Constantino Candeira S/N, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Emma Gracia-Lor
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" (IRCCS) , Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Nikolaos I Rousis
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" (IRCCS) , Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Erika Castrignanò
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath , Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) , Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - José Benito Quintana
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Institute for Food Analysis and Research (IIAA), University of Santiago de Compostela , Constantino Candeira S/N, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | | | - Ettore Zuccato
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" (IRCCS) , Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Castiglioni
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri" (IRCCS) , Via La Masa 19, 20156 Milan, Italy
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Odoardi S, Romolo FS, Strano-Rossi S. A snapshot on NPS in Italy: Distribution of drugs in seized materials analysed in an Italian forensic laboratory in the period 2013–2015. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 265:116-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Nie H, Li X, Hua Z, Pan W, Bai Y, Fu X. Rapid screening and determination of 11 new psychoactive substances by direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2016; 30 Suppl 1:141-146. [PMID: 27539429 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE With the amounts and types of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) increasing rapidly in recent years, an excellent high-throughput method for the analysis of these compounds is urgently needed. In this article, a rapid screening method and a quantitative analysis method for 11 NPSs are described and compared, respectively. METHOD A simple direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) method was developed for the analysis of 11 NPSs including three categories of these substances present on the global market such as four cathinones, one phenylethylamine, and six synthetic cannabinoids. In order to analyze these compounds quantitatively with better accuracy and sensitivity, another rapid analytical method with a low limit of detection (LOD) was also developed using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/QTOFMS). RESULTS The 11 NPSs could be determined within 0.5 min by DART-MS. Furthermore, they could also be separated and determined within 5 min by the LC/QTOFMS method. The two methods both showed good linearity with correlation coefficients (r(2) ) higher than 0.99. The LODs for all these target NPSs by DART-MS and LC/QTOFMS ranged from 5 to 40 ng mL(-1) and 0.1 to 1 ng mL(-1) , respectively. Confiscated samples, named as "music vanilla" and "bath salt", and 11 spiked samples were firstly screened by DART-MS and then determined by LC/QTOFMS. CONCLUSIONS The identification of NPSs in confiscated materials was successfully achieved, and the proposed analytical methodology could offer rapid screening and accurate analysis results. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honggang Nie
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Analytical Instrumentation Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Xianjiang Li
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Zhendong Hua
- National Narcotics Laboratory, Drug Intelligence and Forensic Center of the Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Wei Pan
- College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Analytical Instrumentation Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yanping Bai
- National Narcotics Laboratory, Drug Intelligence and Forensic Center of the Ministry of Public Security, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xiaofang Fu
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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Kusano M, Zaitsu K, Yamanaka M, Hisatsune K, Asano T, Taki K, Hayashi Y, Tsuchihashi H, Ishii A. Development of a mass spectrometric hydroxyl-position determination method for the hydroxyindole metabolites of JWH-018 by GC-MS/MS. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2016; 51:350-357. [PMID: 27194519 DOI: 10.1002/jms.3761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
One of the many issues of designer drugs of abuse like synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) such as JWH-018 is that details on their metabolism has yet to be fully elucidated and that multiple metabolites exist. The presence of isomeric compounds poses further challenges in their identification. Our group has previously shown the effectiveness of gas chromatography-electron ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS/MS) in the mass spectrometric differentiation of the positional isomers of the naphthoylindole-type SC JWH-081, and speculated that the same approach could be used for the metabolite isomers. Using JWH-018 as a model SC, the aim of this study was to differentiate the positional isomers of its hydroxyindole metabolites by GC-MS/MS. Standard compounds of JWH-018 and its hydroxyindole metabolite positional isomers were first analyzed by GC-EI-MS in full scan mode, which was only able to differentiate the 4-hydroxyindole isomer. Further GC-MS/MS analysis was performed by selecting m/z 302 as the precursor ion. All four isomers produced characteristic product ions that enabled the differentiation between them. Using these ions, MRM analysis was performed on the urine of JWH-018 administered mice and determined the hydroxyl positions to be at the 6-position on the indole ring. GC-EI-MS/MS allowed for the regioisomeric differentiation of the hydroxyindole metabolite isomers of JWH-018. Furthermore, analysis of the fragmentation patterns suggests that the present method has high potential to be extended to hydroxyindole metabolites of other naphthoylindole type SCs in identifying the position of the hydroxyl group on the indole ring. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiko Kusano
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kei Zaitsu
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Mayumi Yamanaka
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Hisatsune
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Forensic Science Laboratory, Aichi Prefectural Police Headquarters, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tomomi Asano
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kentaro Taki
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yumi Hayashi
- Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Radiological and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Tsuchihashi
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akira Ishii
- Department of Legal Medicine and Bioethics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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