Simultaneous determination of cyclic antidepressants and their related drugs and the estimation of new metabolites in human whole blood and urine by MALDI-QTOF-mass spectrometry

Pipette-tip solid-phase extraction coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry enables rapid and high-throughput analysis of antidepressants in rat serum

Therapeutic drug monitoring is essential for ensuring the efficacy and safety of medications. This study introduces a streamlined approach that combines pipette-tip solid-phase extraction (PT-SPE) with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS), facilitating rapid and high-throughput monitoring of drug concentrations. As a demonstration, this method was applied to the extraction and quantification of antidepressants in serum. Utilizing Zip-Tip C18, the method enabled the extraction of antidepressants from complex biological matrices in less than 2 min, with the subsequent MALDI-MS analysis yielding results in just 1 min. Optimal extraction recoveries were achieved using a sampling solution at pH 9.0 and a 10 μL ethanol desorption solution containing 0.1% phosphoric acid. For MALDI analysis, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid was identified as the most effective matrix for producing the highest signal intensity. The quantification strategy exhibited robust linearities (R2 ≥ 0.997) and satisfactory limits of quantification, ranging from 0.05 to 0.5 μg/mL for a suite of antidepressants. The application for monitoring dynamic concentration changes of antidepressants in rat serum emphasized the method's efficacy. This strategy offers the advantages of high throughput, minimal sample usage, environmental sustainability, and simplicity, providing ideas and a reference basis for the subsequent development of methods for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019

This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.

Electroanalysis of Tricyclic Psychotropic Drugs using Modified Electrodes

Background:

Tricyclic psychotropic drugs are defined as a tricyclic rings of the dibenzazepine group with the presence of sulfur and nitrogen atoms. They have been prescribed for antidepressive therapy over the years. Due to their medical importance, many analytical methods have been developed for their monitoring. However, benefits of electrochemical techniques such as costeffectiveness, fast, easy operation and non-destructiveness make them appropriate analytical methods for drug assays. Electrochemical determinations of pharmaceuticals require suitable working electrodes. During years, many electrodes are modified by a variety of modifiers and several sensors were developed based on them. In this regard, nanomaterials, due to their remarkable properties, are one of the most important choices.

Objective:

Here, the application of electroanalytical methods in the determination of electroactive tricyclic psychotropic drugs will be reviewed and the nanomaterials which are used for improvements of the working electrodes will be considered.