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Takeda A, Doi T, Asada A, Yuzawa K, Nagasawa A, Igarashi K, Maeno T, Suzuki A, Shimizu S, Uemura N, Nakajima J, Suzuki T, Inomata A, Tagami T. The biological effects and thermal degradation of NPB-22, a synthetic cannabinoid. Forensic Toxicol 2024; 42:142-151. [PMID: 38294576 PMCID: PMC11269510 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-023-00679-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE NPB-22 (quinolin-8-yl 1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxylate), Adamantyl-THPINACA (N-(1-adamantantyl)-1-[(tetrahydro-2H-pyran-4-yl)methyl]-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide), and CUMYL-4CN-B7AICA (1-(4-cyanobutyl)-N-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)-1H- pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine-3-carboxamide), synthetic cannabinoids were evaluated in terms of CB1 (cannabinoid receptor type 1) and CB2 (cannabinoid receptor type 2) activities, and their biological effects when inhaled similar to cigarettes were examined. METHODS The half maximal effective concentration values of the aforementioned synthetic cannabinoids at the CB1 and CB2 were investigated using [35S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)-triphosphate binding assays. In addition, their biological effects were evaluated using the inhalation exposure test with mice. The smoke generated was recovered by organic solvents in the midget impingers, and the thermal degradation compounds of the smoke components were identified and quantified using a liquid chromatography-photo diode array detector. RESULTS NPB-22 and Adamantyl-THPINACA had equivalent CB1 activity in in vitro assays. Meanwhile, NPB-22 had a weaker biological effect on some items on the inhalation exposure test than Adamantyl-THPINACA. When analyzing organic solvents in the midget impingers, it was revealed that NPB-22 was degraded to 8-quinolinol and pentyl indazole 3-carboxylic acid by combustion. In addition, these degradation compounds did not have CB1 activity. CONCLUSION It was estimated that the biological effects of NPB-22 on the inhalation exposure test weakened because it underwent thermal degradation by combustion, and the resultant degradation compounds did not have any CB1 activity in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Takeda
- Division of Hygienic Chemistry, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Doi
- Division of Hygienic Chemistry, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan
| | - Akiko Asada
- Division of Hygienic Chemistry, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan
| | - Katsuhiro Yuzawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Akemichi Nagasawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Kai Igarashi
- Tolyo Metropolitan Island Public Health Center, 2466-2 Okago, Hachijo-machi, Hachijojima, Tokyo, 100-1492, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Maeno
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Atsuko Suzuki
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Seiko Shimizu
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Nozomi Uemura
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Jun'ichi Nakajima
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Toshinari Suzuki
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Akiko Inomata
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, 3-24-1 Hyakunin-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-0073, Japan
| | - Takaomi Tagami
- Division of Hygienic Chemistry, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-0025, Japan
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Pal A, Kaswan K, Barman SR, Lin YZ, Chung JH, Sharma MK, Liu KL, Chen BH, Wu CC, Lee S, Choi D, Lin ZH. Microfluidic nanodevices for drug sensing and screening applications. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 219:114783. [PMID: 36257116 PMCID: PMC9533638 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114783] [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: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of pandemics (e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 in 2019), influenza A viruses (H1N1 in 2009), etc.), and worldwide spike in the aging population have created unprecedented urgency for developing new drugs to improve disease treatment. As a result, extensive efforts have been made to design novel techniques for efficient drug monitoring and screening, which form the backbone of drug development. Compared to traditional techniques, microfluidics-based platforms have emerged as promising alternatives for high-throughput drug screening due to their inherent miniaturization characteristics, low sample consumption, integration, and compatibility with diverse analytical strategies. Moreover, the microfluidic-based models utilizing human cells to produce in-vitro biomimetics of the human body pave new ways to predict more accurate drug effects in humans. This review provides a comprehensive summary of different microfluidics-based drug sensing and screening strategies and briefly discusses their advantages. Most importantly, an in-depth outlook of the commonly used detection techniques integrated with microfluidic chips for highly sensitive drug screening is provided. Then, the influence of critical parameters such as sensing materials and microfluidic platform geometries on screening performance is summarized. This review also outlines the recent applications of microfluidic approaches for screening therapeutic and illicit drugs. Moreover, the current challenges and the future perspective of this research field is elaborately highlighted, which we believe will contribute immensely towards significant achievements in all aspects of drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnab Pal
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; International Intercollegiate PhD Program, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Kuldeep Kaswan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; International Intercollegiate PhD Program, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Snigdha Roy Barman
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; International Intercollegiate PhD Program, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Zih Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Jun-Hsuan Chung
- Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Manish Kumar Sharma
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Kuei-Lin Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Bo-Huan Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; International Intercollegiate PhD Program, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Medical Center, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Cheng Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; Center of Quality Management, National Taiwan University Hospital, Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, 30059, Taiwan; College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan; Institute of Cellular and System Medicine, National Health Research Institute, Zhunan, 35053, Taiwan
| | - Sangmin Lee
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, 06974, South Korea.
| | - Dongwhi Choi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering (Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Gyeonggi, 17104, South Korea.
| | - Zong-Hong Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; International Intercollegiate PhD Program, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; Frontier Research Center on Fundamental and Applied Sciences of Matters, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan; Department of Mechanical Engineering (Integrated Engineering Program), Kyung Hee University, Gyeonggi, 17104, South Korea.
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Overview of Synthetic Cannabinoids ADB-FUBINACA and AMB-FUBINACA: Clinical, Analytical, and Forensic Implications. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14030186. [PMID: 33669071 PMCID: PMC7996508 DOI: 10.3390/ph14030186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
ADB-FUBINACA and AMB-FUBINACA are two synthetic indazole-derived cannabinoid receptor agonists, up to 140- and 85-fold more potent, respectively, than trans-∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), the main psychoactive compound of cannabis. Synthesised in 2009 as a pharmaceutical drug candidate, the recreational use of ADB-FUBINACA was first reported in 2013 in Japan, with fatal cases being described in 2015. ADB-FUBINACA is one of the most apprehended and consumed synthetic cannabinoid (SC), following AMB-FUBINACA, which emerged in 2014 as a drug of abuse and has since been responsible for several intoxication and death outbreaks. Here, we critically review the physicochemical properties, detection methods, prevalence, biological effects, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of both drugs. When smoked, these SCs produce almost immediate effects (about 10 to 15 s after use) that last up to 60 min. They are rapidly and extensively metabolised, being the O-demethylated metabolite of AMB-FUBINACA, 2-(1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide)-3-methylbutanoic acid, the main excreted in urine, while for ADB-FUBINACA the main biomarkers are the hydroxdimethylpropyl ADB-FUBINACA, hydroxydehydrodimethylpropyl ADB-FUBINACA and hydroxylindazole ADB-FUBINACA. ADB-FUBINACA and AMB-FUBINACA display full agonism of the CB1 receptor, this being responsible for their cardiovascular and neurological effects (e.g., altered perception, agitation, anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, loss of consciousness and memory, chest pain, hypertension, tachycardia, seizures). This review highlights the urgent requirement for additional studies on the toxicokinetic properties of AMB-FUBINACA and ADB-FUBINACA, as this is imperative to improve the methods for detecting and quantifying these drugs and to determine the best exposure markers in the various biological matrices. Furthermore, it stresses the need for clinicians and pathologists involved in the management of these intoxications to describe their findings in the scientific literature, thus assisting in the risk assessment and treatment of the harmful effects of these drugs in future medical and forensic investigations.
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Giachetti AD, Kahl JH, Zaney ME, Hime GW, Boland DM. Method Validation of Seven Synthetic Cathinones by LC-MS/MS Analysis and the Prevalence of N-Ethylpentylone in Postmortem Casework. J Anal Toxicol 2020; 46:bkaa194. [PMID: 33305793 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
N-ethylpentylone (NEP, ephylone, bk-EBDP) was the most prevalent synthetic cathinone detected by the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Toxicology Laboratory from 2016-2018. There is limited information regarding the toxicity of NEP, however the few published reports suggest that NEP can cause serious toxic effects and sudden death. The purpose of this publication is to describe a validated LC-MS/MS method for seven synthetic cathinones (methylone, ethylone, butylone, dibutylone, α-PVP, pentylone, and NEP) and to present a detailed summary regarding the presence of NEP in postmortem casework at the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department. Post-mortem iliac blood, serum, liver, and brain specimens were prepared by solid-phase extraction with analysis by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS-MS). Analyte linearity was established from 0.01 to 0.5 mg/L on a six-point calibration curve. A total of 101 NEP quantitations were performed using this method. Concentrations in postmortem case samples ranged from 0.01 mg/L to 2.7 mg/L. Iliac blood concentrations averaged 0.312 mg/L with a median of 0.137 mg/L (n=72) across all causes and manners of death. Approximately half of the cases were homicides in which the decedent was the victim of gunshot wounds or stabbing. Two of the three highest concentration cases of NEP (2.7 mg/L and 1.7 mg/L) involved 38-year old white males who were tasered by police prior to death. The psychostimulant effect of NEP may result in an excited delirium and/or hallucinogenic state. The concentration of NEP detected in accidental intoxication and polydrug cases overlapped with those attributed to other causes, including homicides and police involved deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander D Giachetti
- Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, 1851 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
| | - Joseph H Kahl
- Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, 1851 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
| | - M Elizabeth Zaney
- Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, 1851 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
| | - George W Hime
- Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, 1851 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
| | - Diane M Boland
- Miami-Dade Medical Examiner Department, 1851 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
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Arillotta D, Schifano F, Napoletano F, Zangani C, Gilgar L, Guirguis A, Corkery JM, Aguglia E, Vento A. Novel Opioids: Systematic Web Crawling Within the e-Psychonauts' Scenario. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:149. [PMID: 32256304 PMCID: PMC7093327 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A wide range of novel psychoactive substances (NPSs) are regularly searched and discussed online by e-psychonauts. Among NPSs, the range of prescription/non-prescription opioids (fentanyl and non-fentanyl analogs) and herbal derivatives currently represents a challenge for governments and clinicians. Methods Using a web crawler (i.e., NPS.Finder®), the present study aimed at assessing psychonaut fora/platforms to better understand the online situation regarding opioids. Results The open-web crawling/navigating software identified some 426 opioids, including 234 fentanyl analogs. Of these, 176 substances (162 were very potent fentanyls, including two ohmefentanyl and seven carfentanyl analogs) were not listed in either international or European NPS databases. Conclusion A web crawling approach helped in identifying a large number, indeed higher than that listed by European/international agencies, of unknown opioids likely to possess a significant misuse potential. Most of these novel/emerging substances are still relatively unknown. This is a reason of concern; each of these analogs potentially presents with different toxicodynamic profiles, and there is a lack of docking, preclinical, and clinical observations. Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration between clinicians and bioinformatics may prove useful in better assessing public health risks associated with opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Arillotta
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Fabrizio Schifano
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Flavia Napoletano
- East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), Homerton University Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Caroline Zangani
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.,Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Liam Gilgar
- Gabalfa Clinic, Cardiff and Vale NHS Health Board, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Amira Guirguis
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom.,Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - John Martin Corkery
- Psychopharmacology, Drug Misuse and Novel Psychoactive Substances Research Unit, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Eugenio Aguglia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Psychiatry Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vento
- Addictions' Observatory (ODDPSS), Rome, Italy.,School of Psychology, G. Marconi, Telematic University, Rome, Italy.,Department of Mental Health, Rome, Italy
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