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Chen XY, Wang L, Ma X, Yang F, Wang X, Xu P, Xu LL, Di B. Development of fentanyl-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) to antagonize the pharmacological effects of fentanyl. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 486:116918. [PMID: 38570042 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.116918] [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] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Fentanyl, a critical component of opioid analgesics, poses a severe threat to public health, exacerbating the drug problem due to its potential fatality. Herein, we present two novel haptens designed with different attachment sites conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), aiming to develop an efficacious vaccine against fentanyl. KLH-Fent-1 demonstrated superior performance over KLH-Fent-2 in antibody titer, blood-brain distribution, and antinociceptive tests. Consequently, we immunized mice with KLH-Fent-1 to generate fentanyl-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) using the hybridoma technique to compensate for the defects of active immunization in the treatment of opioid overdose and addiction. The mAb produced by hybridoma 9D5 exhibited the ability to recognize fentanyl and its analogs with a binding affinity of 10-10 M. Subsequently, we developed a human IgG1 chimeric mAb to improve the degree of humanization. Pre-treatment with murine and chimeric mAb significantly reduced the analgesic effect of fentanyl and altered its blood-brain biodistribution in vivo. Furthermore, in a mouse model of fentanyl-induced respiratory depression, the chimeric mAb effectively reversed respiratory depression promptly and maintained a certain level during the week. The development of high-affinity chimeric mAb gives support to combat the challenges of fentanyl misuse and its detrimental consequences. In conclusion, mAb passive immunization represents a viable strategy for addressing fentanyl addiction and overdose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yi Chen
- Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Li Wang
- Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Monitoring and Control, Drug Intelligence and Forensic Center, Ministry of Public Security, Beijing 100193, China.
| | - Li-Li Xu
- Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
| | - Bin Di
- Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, China Pharmaceutical University Joint Laboratory on Key Technologies of Narcotics Control, Nanjing 210009, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
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Neukamm MA, Halter S, Auwärter V, Schmitt G, Giorgetti A, Bartel M. Death after smoking of fentanyl, 5F-ADB, 5F-MDMB-P7AICA and other synthetic cannabinoids with a bucket bong. Forensic Toxicol 2024; 42:82-92. [PMID: 37300633 PMCID: PMC10808286 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-023-00666-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We report a case of a polydrug user who consumed various synthetic cannabinoids and fentanyl from a transdermal patch via a bucket bong. Toxicological results from postmortem matrices with special focus on synthetic cannabinoids are discussed in terms of their relevance to the death. METHODS The samples were analyzed by toxicological screening procedures involving immunoassays and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as well as quantitative analyses by means of GC-MS and high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS At the autopsy, coronary artery disease and signs of liver congestion were noted, in the absence of acute myocardial ischemic changes. Femoral blood concentrations of fentanyl and pregabalin were 14 ng/mL and 3,200 ng/mL, respectively. In addition, 2.7 ng/mL 5F-ADB and 13 ng/mL 5F-MDMB-P7AICA were detected together with relatively low amounts of 5 other synthetic cannabinoids in cardiac blood. A total number of up to 17 synthetic cannabinoids were detected in kidney, liver, urine and hair. Fentanyl and 5F-ADB were also detected in the water of the bucket bong. CONCLUSIONS The cause of death could be attributed to an acute mixed intoxication by fentanyl and 5F-ADB (both Toxicological Significance Score (TSS) = 3) with a contribution of pregabalin and 5F-MDMB-P7AICA (TSS = 2), in a subject suffering from pre-existing heart damage. The most plausible mechanism of death consists in a respiratory depression. This case report demonstrates that use of opioids in combination with synthetic cannabinoids might be particularly dangerous.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merja A Neukamm
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 9, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Sebastian Halter
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 9, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Volker Auwärter
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Albertstrasse 9, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Georg Schmitt
- Institute of Forensic and Traffic Medicine, University Hospital, Voßstrasse 2, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arianna Giorgetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marc Bartel
- Institute of Forensic and Traffic Medicine, University Hospital, Voßstrasse 2, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany
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Sommerfeld-Klatta K, Jiers W, Łukasik-Głębocka M, Tezyk A, Dolińska-Kaczmarek K, Walter K, Świderski P, Rzepczyk S, Zielińska-Psuja B, Żaba C. Severe and Fatal Fentanyl Poisonings from Transdermal Systems after On-Skin and Ingestion Application. TOXICS 2023; 11:872. [PMID: 37888722 PMCID: PMC10610823 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11100872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the administration of fentanyl (FNTL) implicitly in transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) has vastly increased in chronic pain treatment. Non-medical and uncontrolled use of FNTL in TFDS (transdermal fentanyl delivery systems) may reveal toxic effects by the route of exposure, dermal or alternative, by ingestion of patches, and drug release in the stomach. The purpose of this study was to present three different cases of FNTL poisonings, two of which resulted in death due to TFDS abuse. The first case is a 66-year-old woman treated for accidental FTNL poisoning resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome. Two remaining cases are a 31-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man who died as a result of FNTL overdose after on-skin and ingestion application of the drug patches. During the hospitalization of the 66-year-old patient, in blood samples, FNTL was confirmed at a concentration of 10.0 ng/mL. Tests run on blood taken from the corpses of 25- and 31-year-old patients exhibited FNTL presence in concentrations of 29.1 ng/mL and 38.7 ng/mL, respectively. The various routes of administration and ultimately toxic effects are important to present because, in TDDS, fentanyl can be a reason for severe to fatal poisoning, as shown by the three cases above.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Sommerfeld-Klatta
- Department of Toxicology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 30 Dojazd Street, 60-631 Poznan, Poland
| | - Wiktoria Jiers
- Department of Toxicology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 30 Dojazd Street, 60-631 Poznan, Poland
| | - Magdalena Łukasik-Głębocka
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 7 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Artur Tezyk
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 10 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Klaudia Dolińska-Kaczmarek
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 10 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Kamil Walter
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 10 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Paweł Świderski
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 10 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Szymon Rzepczyk
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 10 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Barbara Zielińska-Psuja
- Department of Toxicology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 30 Dojazd Street, 60-631 Poznan, Poland
| | - Czesław Żaba
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 10 Rokietnicka Street, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
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Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of carvacrol in chicken tissues. J Vet Res 2022; 66:225-233. [PMID: 35892098 PMCID: PMC9281527 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2022-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Carvacrol is an essential oil derived from oregano that is used as a natural additive to improve the efficiency of livestock nutrition. Residues of natural additives such as carvacrol should be monitored in food of animal origin to ensure consumer safety. The aim of this study was to appraise the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe (QuEChERS) approach coupled with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry as a means of carvacrol analysis in chicken tissue. Material and Methods A 5 ± 0.05 g portion of plasma, lung, muscle and liver was mixed for 15 min with 5 mL of 1-butanol and 20 mL of water, then centrifuged. A 0.5 mL volume from the top layer was transferred, then 60 mg of octadecylsilane sorbent, 30 mg of primary and secondary amine and 200 mg of MgSO4 were added. The extract was mixed and centrifuged. The top layer was filtered and then transferred to an autosampler vial for analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results The limit of detection was calculated at 0.06 μg g−1 and the limit of quantification was 0.2 μg g−1, with relative standard deviation repeatability and reproducibility below <20%. Conclusion The validation results showed that this method could be a good alternative to determination of carvacrol by gas chromatography and is suitable for carvacrol analysis in different matrices.
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Feisthauer E, Farrugia A, Ameline A, Gheddar L, Arbouche N, Raul JS, Kintz P. Intérêt de rechercher la 4-ANPP dans les milieux biologiques comme marqueur d’une exposition au fentanyl ou à un analogue structural. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Lipemia in the Plasma Sample Affects Fentanyl Measurements by Means of HPLC-MS 2 after Liquid-Liquid Extraction. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26154514. [PMID: 34361667 PMCID: PMC8347684 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26154514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Examination of fentanyl levels is frequently performed in certain scientific evaluations and forensic toxicology. It often involves the collection of very variable blood samples, including lipemic plasma or serum. To date, many works have reported the methods for fentanyl detection, but none of them have provided information about the impact on the assay performance caused by an excessive amount of lipids. This aspect may be, however, very important for highly lipophilic drugs like fentanyl. To address this issue, we developed the liquid chromatography method with mass spectrometry detection and utilized it to investigate the impact of lipids presence in rabbit plasma on the analytical method performance and validation. The validation procedure, conducted for normal plasma and lipemic plasma separately, resulted in good selectivity, sensitivity and linearity. The limits of detection and quantification were comparable between the two matrices, being slightly lower in normal plasma (0.005 and 0.015 µg/L) than in lipemic plasma (0.008 and 0.020 µg/L). Liquid–liquid extraction provided a low matrix effect regardless of the lipid levels in the samples (<10%), but pronounced differences were found in the recovery and accuracy. In the normal plasma, this parameter was stable and high (around 100%), but in the lipemic matrix, much more variable and less efficient results were obtained. Nevertheless, this difference had no impact on repeatability and reproducibility. In the present work, we provided reliable, convenient and sensitive method for fentanyl detection in the normal and lipemic rabbit plasma. However, construction of two separate validation curves was necessary to provide adequate results since the liquid-liquid extraction was utilized. Therefore, special attention should be paid during fentanyl quantification that involves lipemic plasma samples purified by this technique.
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Havig SM, Vindenes V, Øiestad ÅML, Rogde S, Thaulow CH. Methadone, Buprenorphine, Oxycodone, Fentanyl, and Tramadol in Multiple Postmortem Matrices. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 46:600-610. [PMID: 34115841 PMCID: PMC9282245 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkab071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral blood (PB) concentrations are generally preferred for postmortem toxicological interpretation, but some autopsy cases may lack blood for sampling due to decomposition or large traumas, etc. In such cases, other tissues or bodily fluids must be sampled; however, limited information exists on postmortem concentrations in matrices other than blood. Pericardial fluid (PF), muscle and vitreous humor (VH) have been suggested as alternatives to blood, but only a few studies have investigated the detection of opioids in these matrices. In this study, we aimed to investigate the detection of methadone, buprenorphine, oxycodone, fentanyl and tramadol in postmortem samples of PF, skeletal muscle and VH, in addition to PB and cardiac blood and if drug concentrations in these alternative matrices were comparable to those in PB and thereby useful for interpretation. In most of the 54 included cases, only one opioid was detected. Methadone, oxycodone, fentanyl and tramadol were detected in all of the alternative matrices in almost all cases, while buprenorphine was detected less often. For methadone, the concentrations in the alternative matrices, except in VH, were relatively similar to those in PB. Larger variations in concentrations were found for buprenorphine, oxycodone and tramadol. Quantitative analyses appeared useful for fentanyl, in all of the alternative matrices, but only four cases were included. Toxicological analyses of opioids in these alternative postmortem matrices can be useful for detection, but quantitative results must be interpreted with caution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vigdis Vindenes
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo
| | | | - Sidsel Rogde
- Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital
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Zanon M, Valentinuz E, Montanaro M, Radaelli D, Consoloni L, D’Errico S. Fentanyl transdermal patch: The silent new killer? FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL: REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fsir.2020.100104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Mostafa Najafi, Sohouli E, Mousavi F. An Electrochemical Sensor for Fentanyl Detection Based on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes as Electrocatalyst and the Electrooxidation Mechanism. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s1061934820090130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Post-mortem analysis of prescription opioids—A follow-up examination by LC–MS/MS with focus on fentanyl. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 305:109970. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Chesser R, Pardi J, Concheiro M, Cooper G. Distribution of synthetic opioids in postmortem blood, vitreous humor and brain. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 305:109999. [PMID: 31671355 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In the US, the use of synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl and derivatives) has become an increasing health issue with thousands of overdose deaths being observed since 2013. With the high mortality rate associated with these substances, postmortem analyses and interpretation of synthetic opioids has become extremely important. However, due to the novelty of these compounds, the available data are limited and provides challenges to toxicologists. The objectives of this study were (1) to develop and validate analytical methods for the determination of synthetic opioids in vitreous humor and brain, and (2) to investigate the postmortem distribution of new synthetic opioids in blood, vitreous humor, and brain tissue. Vitreous humor (0.5mL) and brain tissue (5g) homogenized in water (diluted 1:3, w/w) were extracted by mixed mode cation exchange-reversed phase solid phase extraction. Extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS). The chromatographic separation was performed by reversed-phase with 0.1% formic acid in water and in acetonitrile as mobile phases in gradient mode, with a total run time of 21min. Data were acquired with ESI+ in dynamic multiple reaction mode (dMRM), monitoring 2 transitions per compound. The methods were succesfully validated following SWGTOX guidelines, with limits of quantification of 0.1ng/mL in vitreous humor and 0.1ng/g in brain. Fifty-eight authentic case samples from the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (NYC-OCME) were analyzed to assess the distribution and detectability of synthetic opioids in these postmortem samples. Of the fifteen synthetic opioids included in the method, six synthetic opioids and metabolites (4-ANPP, acetylfentanyl, fentanyl, furanylfentanyl, norfentanyl, U-47700) were detected in the authentic cases. Concentrations for most analytes were within the 0.1 to 100ng/mL or ng/g calibration range across all three matrices, with only concentrations from acetylfentanyl and U-47700 exceeding 100ng/mL or ng/g. The highest concentrations were observed in brain (except norfentanyl), followed by blood and vitreous humor. Most analytes were detected in all three matrices in a given case. This was followed by detection of an analyte in combinations of brain and another matrix or brain only. Through the case analyses, vitreous humor and brain demonstrated to be viable alternatives to blood when performing postmortem analyses of synthetic opioids. Brain exhibited a higher detectability for most analytes when compared to blood and vitreous humor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Chesser
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Justine Pardi
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Marta Concheiro
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York City, NY, United States.
| | - Gail Cooper
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Office of Chief Medical Examiner, New York City, NY, United States
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Ketola RA, Kriikku P. Drug concentrations in post‐mortem specimens. Drug Test Anal 2019; 11:1338-1357. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Raimo A. Ketola
- Forensic Toxicology UnitNational Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) Mannerheimintie 166 FI‐00270 Helsinki Finland
| | - Pirkko Kriikku
- Forensic Toxicology UnitNational Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) Mannerheimintie 166 FI‐00270 Helsinki Finland
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Fatal misuse of transdermal fentanyl patches. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 302:109858. [PMID: 31279508 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid with a variety of possible applications. Transdermal fentanyl patches are regularly prescribed for patients with severe chronic or cancer-related pain. The potential for abuse is well-known and cases associated with illicit fentanyl intake are common. Fentanyl related fatalities due to unintentional misuse are relatively rare. This study focused on those instances and their identification in forensic examinations and adds new cases and consolidates the existing femoral blood concentrations in the event of fatal fentanyl patch misapplications. A total of 35 cases between 2010 and 2018 in which transdermal fentanyl patches were detected during forensic autopsies were identified and reviewed for the frequency of unspecific macroscopic signs of opioid intoxication. Furthermore, a detailed examination is presented for 11 cases in which toxicological results were available. The cause of death was eventually considered to be related to fentanyl patch misuse in 5 of these 11 cases. Co-administered drugs and signs of opioid intoxication, especially pulmonary edema, were frequently found. Lastly, it is advised to include norfentanyl and hair analysis in the interpretation of post-mortem fentanyl concentrations.
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Wang K, Xu B, Wu J, Zhu Y, Guo L, Xie J. Elucidating fentanyls differentiation from morphines in chemical and biological samples with surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Electrophoresis 2019; 40:2193-2203. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201900004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures and Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences Beijing P. R. China
| | - Bin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures and Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences Beijing P. R. China
| | - Jianfeng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures and Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences Beijing P. R. China
| | - Yingjie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures and Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences Beijing P. R. China
| | - Lei Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures and Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences Beijing P. R. China
| | - Jianwei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Toxicology and Medical Countermeasures and Laboratory of Toxicant Analysis Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology Academy of Military Medical Sciences Beijing P. R. China
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Concheiro M, Chesser R, Pardi J, Cooper G. Postmortem Toxicology of New Synthetic Opioids. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:1210. [PMID: 30416445 PMCID: PMC6212520 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.01210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
One hundred fifteen Americans die every day from opioid overdose. These overdose fatalities have been augmented by the increased availability of potent synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and its derivatives. The death rate of synthetic opioids, other than methadone, increased by 72.2% from 2014 to 2015, and doubled from 2015 to 2016, situating the USA in the midst of an opioid overdose epidemic. The analytical identification of these opioids in postmortem samples and the correct toxicological data interpretation is critical to identify and implement preventive strategies. This article reviews the current knowledge of postmortem toxicology of synthetic opioids and the chemical and pharmacological factors that may affect drug concentrations in the different postmortem matrices and therefore, their interpretation. These factors include key chemical properties, essential pharmacokinetics parameters (metabolism), postmortem redistribution and stability data in postmortem samples. Range and ratios of concentrations reported in traditional and non-traditional postmortem specimens, blood, urine, vitreous humor, liver and brain, are summarized in tables. The review is focused on fentanyl and derivatives (e.g., acetyl fentanyl, butyryl fentanyl, carfentanil, furanyl fentanyl, 4-methoxybutyrylfentanyl, 4-fluorobutyrylfentanyl, ocfentanil) and non-traditional opioid agonists (e.g., AH-7921, MT-45, U-47700). All of these data are critically compared to postmortem data, and chemical and pharmacological properties of natural opioids (morphine), semi-synthetic (oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone), and synthetic opioids (methadone and buprenorphine). The interpretation of drug intoxication in death investigation is based on the available published literature. This review serves to facilitate the evaluation of cases where synthetic opioids may be implicated in a fatality through the critical review of peer reviewed published case reports and research articles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Concheiro
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rachel Chesser
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - Justine Pardi
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, New York, NY, United States
| | - Gail Cooper
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, New York, NY, United States
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Swaminathan SK, Fisher J, Kandimalla KK. Sensitive Determination of Fentanyl in Low-Volume Serum Samples by LC-MS/MS. AAPS PharmSciTech 2018; 19:2812-2817. [PMID: 30191378 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-018-1103-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fentanyl is a widely used drug in the management of pain. Present LC-MS/MS methods for analysis of fentanyl require a large volume of serum, but yet the sensitivity was at about 50 pg/mL. Here, we report a modified liquid-liquid extraction method for the analysis of fentanyl in serum. The method is very sensitive with a LLOQ of 5 pg/mL while using only 0.175 mL of serum for analysis. The separation was performed on a Zorbax XDB-C18 column (4.6 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm, 600 bar) using a mobile phase of water: acetonitrile (70:30 v/v) with 0.1% formic acid that was pumped isocratically at a flow rate of 0.5 mL per minute. The calibration curve was found to be linear over a range of 5-10,000 pg/mL. The inter-day and intra-day accuracy and precision were tested using low (20 pg/mL), medium (1000 pg/mL), and high (5000 pg/mL) quality control samples of fentanyl prepared in blank human serum and were within ± 15% of the nominal value. Fentanyl was also found to be stable in various storage and sample preparation conditions, including short-term bench-top storage (for 5 h), freeze-thaw cycling (three cycles), long-term frozen condition (4.5 months at - 70°C), and post-preparative storage (for 48 h).
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Novel Synthetic Opioids: The Pathologist's Point of View. Brain Sci 2018; 8:brainsci8090170. [PMID: 30200549 PMCID: PMC6162684 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci8090170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) constitute a broad range of hundreds of natural and synthetic drugs, including synthetic opioids, synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, and other NPS classes, which were not controlled from 1961 to 1971 by the United Nations drug control conventions. Among these, synthetic opioids represent a major threat to public health. Methods: A literature search was carried out using public databases (such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus) to survey fentanyl-, fentanyl analogs-, and other synthetic opioid-related deaths. Keywords including “fentanyl”, “fentanyl analogs”, “death”, “overdose”, “intoxication”, “synthetic opioids”, “Novel Psychoactive Substances”, “MT-45”, “AH-7921”, and “U-47700” were used for the inquiry. Results: From our literature examination, we inferred the frequent implication of fentanyls and synthetic opioids in side effects, which primarily affected the central nervous system and the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. The data showed a great variety of substances and lethal concentrations. Multidrug-related deaths appeared very common, in most reported cases. Conclusions: The investigation of the contribution of novel synthetic opioid intoxication to death should be based on a multidisciplinary approach aimed at framing each case and directing the investigation towards targeted toxicological analyses.
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Williamson EJ, Soares JH, Henao-Guerrero N, Council-Troche RM, Pavlisko ND. Cardiovascular and respiratory effects of two doses of fentanyl in the presence or absence of bradycardia in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. Vet Anaesth Analg 2018; 45:423-431. [PMID: 29716836 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaa.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the cardiopulmonary effects of low and high doses of fentanyl before and after the correction of bradycardia in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs. STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized crossover trial. ANIMALS Eight healthy male Beagle dogs weighing 11.1 ± 1.3 kg [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] and aged approximately 1 year. METHODS The dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane [1.3 × minimum alveolar concentration (MAC)] on two occasions and fentanyl was administered intravenously; either low-dose fentanyl, loading dose (33 μg kg-1) and infusion (0.2 μg kg-1 minute-1) or a high-dose, loading dose (102 μg kg-1) and infusion (0.8 μg kg-1 minute-1). Cardiopulmonary variables were measured at three time points in equipotent isoflurane concentrations (1.3 MAC): before fentanyl administration (ISO), during fentanyl-induced bradycardia (ISO-F) and after administration of glycopyrrolate normalized heart rate (ISO-FNHR). Data are mean ± SD. RESULTS Heart rate and cardiac index (CI) decreased and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) increased at ISO-F in both treatments. Bradycardia and vasoconstriction at ISO-F were greater in high than in low-dose fentanyl (42 ± 7 versus 57 ± 15 beats minute-1 and 3457 ± 1108 versus 2528 ± 968 dyne second cm-5 m-2), respectively. Oxygen delivery index (DO2I) decreased only during high-dose fentanyl. CI and DO2I were higher in both treatments at ISO-FNHR than at ISO-F; however, they were higher only during the high-dose fentanyl than at ISO. SVRI was higher at ISO-F than at ISO and ISO-FNHR in both treatments, and was higher at ISO-F in the high than in the low-dose treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE An overall improvement in cardiovascular function of dogs anesthetized with equipotent isoflurane doses (1.3 MAC) was observed after the treatment of bradycardia only with the high-dose fentanyl.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen J Williamson
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Joao Hn Soares
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Natalia Henao-Guerrero
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Roberto McAlister Council-Troche
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Noah D Pavlisko
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Abstract
Drugs related to morphine represent not only large range of important therapeutic applications for the relief of moderate to severe pain but also give rise to a relatively large series of novel opioids that mimic the action of this naturally occurring analgesic. Most of these are based on fentanyl structures that are much more potent, and dangerous, than fentanyl itself. This publication reviews reports of fatalities attributed to 15 novel opioids with the view to assessing mortality associated with their misuse as well as reviewing published analytical procedures that would be able to detect these and other novel opioids. These drugs include reports of deaths to acetylfentanyl, acrylfentanyl, butr(yl)fentanyl, carfentanil, 2- and 4-fluorofentanyls, 4-fluorobutyrfentanyl, 4-fluoroisobutyrfentanyl, furanylfentanyl, α- and 3-methylfentanyls, 4-methoxyfentanyl, ocfentanil, as well as AH-7921, U-47700 and MT-45. Most of these cases reporting a drug-caused death involved other drugs in addition to the opioid. No obvious minimum fatal concentration was discerned for any of the opioids for which details were provided, however, the more potent members required detection limits well under 1 ng/mL and often even well below 0.1 ng/mL requiring use of the most sensitive mass spectral detection procedures, particularly when screening specimens using a non-targeted mode. Four other novel opioids have been reported in admissions to hospitals include 4-chloroisobutryfentanyl, cyclopentylfentanyl and tetrahydrofuranfentanyl, all of which are likely to have the potential to cause death. It is also likely that other analogues will appear with time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf H Drummer
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
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22
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LC–MS determination of fentanyl in human serum and application to a fentanyl transdermal delivery pharmacokinetic study. Bioanalysis 2017; 9:1551-1560. [DOI: 10.4155/bio-2017-0174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Fentanyl is an opioid agonist used for acute and chronic pain management. In this report, a highly sensitive and simple LC–MS/MS method using Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography (HILIC) column was validated and used for fentanyl quantification in human serum. Results: The isocratic mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile: 10 mM ammonium formate buffer (pH = 3.2; 90:10, v/v). The assay was linear over a concentration range of 10–10,000 pg/ml. The accuracy of the validation method ranged from 93.2 to 107%, and the precision was within 6.4%. Fentanyl was stable during short- and long-term storage. Conclusion: The assay has been successfully applied to serum samples obtained from healthy subjects of a fentanyl transdermal pharmacokinetic study.
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Caspar AT, Kollas AB, Maurer HH, Meyer MR. Development of a quantitative approach in blood plasma for low-dosed hallucinogens and opioids using LC-high resolution mass spectrometry. Talanta 2017; 176:635-645. [PMID: 28917801 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.08.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The WHO annually reports an increasing abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS), which are a heterogeneous group of synthetic drugs and are consumed as substitute for controlled drugs of abuse. In this work, we focused on highly potent derivatives such those of phenethylamine (2C), N-2-methoxybenzyl phenethylamine (NBOMes), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and fentanyl. Severe to fatal intoxications were described due to their high potency. Therefore, they have to be taken at very low doses resulting in low blood concentration in the low ng/mL range, which is a challenge for reliable analytical detection and quantification. The aim of this work was therefore to design a simple, robust, and fast method for simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple substances of the different classes in human blood plasma using liquid chromatography (LC) high resolution (HR) mass spectrometry (MS) with alternating HR full-scan (HRFS) MS and "All-ions fragmentation" (AIF) MS. The paper contains results of the method validation according to the EMA guideline, including intra-/interday accuracy and precision, matrix effects, storage and benchtop analyte stability as well as selectivity and carryover. All validation criteria were fulfilled for most tested compounds except for the NBOMe derivatives, one out of ten 2C-derivatives and butyryl fentanyl, which failed at accuracy and/or precision or at the acceptance criteria for matrix effect. Reasons for this are discussed and solutions presented. Despite some limitations, the HRFS + AIFMS analysis allowed detection of most of the analytes down to 0.1ng/mL, seamless integration of new or unexpected analytes, identification and quantification with no limitations on the number of monitored compounds, and reevaluation of the acquired data also concerning metabolism studies using group-indicating fragment ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim T Caspar
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Andreas B Kollas
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Hans H Maurer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Markus R Meyer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.
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Ferner RE, Aronson JK. The toxicological significance of post-mortem drug concentrations in bile. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2017; 56:7-14. [PMID: 28681613 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1339886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robin E. Ferner
- Institute of Clinical Science, University of Birmingham, and West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jeffrey K. Aronson
- Centre for Evidence Based Medicine, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Radcliffe infirmary, Oxford, UK
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Williamson EJ, Soares JHN, Pavlisko ND, McAlister Council-Troche R, Henao-Guerrero N. Isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration sparing effects of fentanyl in the dog. Vet Anaesth Analg 2017; 44:738-745. [PMID: 28701288 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaa.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To characterize the isoflurane-sparing effects of a high and a low dose of fentanyl in dogs, and its effects on mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). STUDY DESIGN Prospective, randomized crossover trial. ANIMALS Eight healthy male Beagle dogs weighing 12.1 ± 1.6 kg [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] and approximate age 1 year. METHODS Dogs were anesthetized using isoflurane and minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) was determined in duplicate by the bracketing method using an electrical stimulus on the tarsus. Animals were administered fentanyl: low dose (33 μg kg-1 loading dose, 0.2 μg kg-1 minute-1) or high dose (102 μg kg-1 loading dose, 0.8 μg kg-1 minute-1) and MAC was re-determined (MACISO-F). Blood was collected for analysis of plasma fentanyl concentrations before administration and after MACISO-F determination. All values are presented as mean ± SD. RESULTS Isoflurane MAC (MACISO) was 1.30 ± 0.23% in the low dose treatment, which significantly decreased to 0.75 ± 0.22% (average MAC reduction 42.3 ± 9.4%). MACISO was 1.30 ± 0.18% in the high dose treatment, which significantly decreased to 0.30 ± 0.11% (average MAC reduction 76.9 ± 7.4%). Mean fentanyl plasma concentrations were 6.2 and 29.5 ng mL-1 for low and high dose treatments, respectively. MAP increased significantly only in the high dose treatment (from 81 ± 8 to 92 ± 9 mmHg). HR decreased significantly in both treatments from 108 ± 25 to 61 ± 14 beats minute-1 with the low dose and from 95 ± 14 to 42 ± 4 beats minute-1 with the high dose. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Fentanyl administration resulted in a dose-dependent isoflurane MAC-sparing effect with bradycardia at both doses and an increase in MAP only at high dose. Further evaluation is needed to determine the effects of fentanyl on the overall cardiovascular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen J Williamson
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Joao H N Soares
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
| | - Noah D Pavlisko
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Robert McAlister Council-Troche
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, VA, USA
| | - Natalia Henao-Guerrero
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
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Bévalot F, Cartiser N, Bottinelli C, Fanton L, Guitton J. État de l’art de l’analyse de la bile en toxicologie médicolégale. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2016.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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27
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Fentanyl (FEN) is a potent, synthetic narcotic used as an anaesthetic and a pain reliever, but also illegally manufactured. For diversion purpose, it is being steadily modified to produce new analogous compounds and derivatives (FENS), categorised as novel psychoactive substances. While potential FEN abuse is already known, even in the absence of a clear lethal dosage, there is still a shortage of data on its derivatives. METHODS A literature review of FENS-related deaths was performed, to better understand potential damage and future perspectives of FEN congeners. RESULTS Epidemiological data, pathological findings, administration routes, average concentrations and lethal doses, toxicological issues, trends in misuses, comparison among FENS, and possible explanation for FENS abuse are reviewed and discussed in depth. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a medical-legal and toxicological assessment of this phenomenon in order to understand the role of illegal fentanyl and its congeners in deaths from FENS overdose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Giorgetti
- Section of Legal Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Carmela Centola
- Section of Legal Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Raffaele Giorgetti
- Section of Legal Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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28
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Trist AJ, Sahota H, Williams L. Not so patchy story of attempted suicide…leading to 24 hours of deep sleep and survival! BMJ Case Rep 2017; 2017:bcr-2016-217231. [PMID: 28096225 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-217231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present a somewhat unusual suicide attempt where, despite an unbelievable overdose with transdermal fentanyl patches, the patient survived. The patient-a woman aged 70 years, who has suffered from chronic back pain despite starting transdermal fentanyl patches in 2007. The unconventional method of attempted suicide was based on online research into deaths from fentanyl patch toxicity. She had gradually accumulated 100 µg fentanyl patches from repeat prescriptions, applying 14 patches with fatal intent, alongside 2 45 mg mirtazapine tablets, and concurrent therapeutic doses of tramadol and morphine sulfate oral solution. However, after 24 hours, she awoke from a deep sleep to the sound of the telephone ringing, somewhat amazed her drastic efforts had failed. During admission to Great Western hospital, she was seen by liaison psychiatry and subsequently transferred to the care of the pain management team, to which she had already been referred.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hardeep Sahota
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Lucy Williams
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Swindon, UK
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29
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Coopman V, Blanckaert P, Van Parys G, Van Calenbergh S, Cordonnier J. A case of acute intoxication due to combined use of fentanyl and 3,4-dichloro-N-[2-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl]-N-methylbenzamide (U-47700). Forensic Sci Int 2016; 266:68-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Revised: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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30
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Ruan X, Chiravuri S, Kaye AD. Using postmortem blood and urine norfentanyl/fentanyl ratios in the investigation of fentanyl-related deaths. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2016; 54:893. [DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2016.1199030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiulu Ruan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Srinivas Chiravuri
- Pain Medicine Fellowship and Neuromodulation, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System Back & Pain Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Alan D. Kaye
- Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
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31
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Bévalot F, Cartiser N, Bottinelli C, Guitton J, Fanton L. State of the art in bile analysis in forensic toxicology. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 259:133-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.10.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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32
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Bévalot F, Cartiser N, Bottinelli C, Fanton L, Guitton J. Vitreous humor analysis for the detection of xenobiotics in forensic toxicology: a review. Forensic Toxicol 2015; 34:12-40. [PMID: 26793276 PMCID: PMC4705140 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-015-0294-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Vitreous humor (VH) is a gelatinous substance contained in the posterior chamber of the eye, playing a mechanical role in the eyeball. It has been the subject of numerous studies in various forensic applications, primarily for the assessment of postmortem interval and for postmortem chemical analysis. Since most of the xenobiotics present in the bloodstream are detected in VH after crossing the selective blood-retinal barrier, VH is an alternative matrix useful for forensic toxicology. VH analysis offers particular advantages over other biological matrices: it is less prone to postmortem redistribution, is easy to collect, has relatively few interfering compounds for the analytical process, and shows sample stability over time after death. The present study is an overview of VH physiology, drug transport and elimination. Collection, storage, analytical techniques and interpretation of results from qualitative and quantitative points of view are dealt with. The distribution of xenobiotics in VH samples is thus discussed and illustrated by a table reporting the concentrations of 106 drugs from more than 300 case reports. For this purpose, a survey was conducted of publications found in the MEDLINE database from 1969 through April 30, 2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabien Bévalot
- Laboratoire LAT LUMTOX, 71 Avenue Rockefeller, 69003 Lyon, France.,Institut de Médecine Légale, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Faculté de Médecine Lyon Est, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69373 Lyon Cedex 08, France
| | - Nathalie Cartiser
- Laboratoire de Toxicologie, ISPB-Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69373 Lyon Cedex 08, France
| | | | - Laurent Fanton
- Département de Médecine Légale, Hôpital Edouard-Herriot, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Place D'Arsonval, 69437 Lyon Cedex 03, France.,CREATIS CNRS UMR 5220, INSERM U1044, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSA Lyon, 7 Avenue Jean Capelle, 69621 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Jérôme Guitton
- Laboratoire de Toxicologie, ISPB-Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69373 Lyon Cedex 08, France.,Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 165 Chemin Grand Revoyet, 69495 Pierre Bénite Cedex, France
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Cunningham SM, Haikal NA, Kraner JC. Fatal Intoxication with Acetyl Fentanyl. J Forensic Sci 2015; 61 Suppl 1:S276-80. [PMID: 26389815 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.12953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan M. Cunningham
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; 619 Virginia Street West Charleston WV 25302
| | - Nabila A. Haikal
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; 619 Virginia Street West Charleston WV 25302
| | - James C. Kraner
- Office of the Chief Medical Examiner; 619 Virginia Street West Charleston WV 25302
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34
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Kim TS, Jin SE, Sun B, Kim MS, Hwang SJ. Comparison of adhesion and dissolution of fentanyl patches: Fentadur® and Durogesic DTrans®. JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL INVESTIGATION 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40005-015-0195-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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35
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Serghini I, Qamouss Y, Zoubir M, Lalaoui JS, Boughalem M. Fatal intoxication caused by the application of the multiple transdermals patchs of fentanyl. Pan Afr Med J 2015; 20:21. [PMID: 26015841 PMCID: PMC4432804 DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2015.20.21.5886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Fentanyl (N-phenyl-N-(1-2-phenylethyl-4-piperidyl)propanamide) is a potent synthetic narcotic analgesic. He has an analgesic effect 100 times greater than that of morphine. The use of transdermal fentanyl delivrery systems has increased over recent years especially in patients with chronic pain who are already treated with high doses of morphine or it is derivate. However, many cases of fentanyl intoxication through a variety of transderrmal systems have been reported. This paper reports a fatality due to excessive administered Fentanyl Sandoz® Matrix 50µg/h transdermal therapeutic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issam Serghini
- Pôle Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Militaire Avicenne, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Cadi Ayyad, 40010 Marrakech, Maroc
| | - Youssef Qamouss
- Pôle Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Militaire Avicenne, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Cadi Ayyad, 40010 Marrakech, Maroc
| | - Mohamed Zoubir
- Pôle Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Militaire Avicenne, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Cadi Ayyad, 40010 Marrakech, Maroc
| | - Jaafar Salim Lalaoui
- Pôle Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Militaire Avicenne, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Cadi Ayyad, 40010 Marrakech, Maroc
| | - Mohamed Boughalem
- Pôle Anesthésie-Réanimation, Hôpital Militaire Avicenne, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Cadi Ayyad, 40010 Marrakech, Maroc
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36
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Mahlke NS, Ziesenitz V, Mikus G, Skopp G. Quantitative low-volume assay for simultaneous determination of fentanyl, norfentanyl, and minor metabolites in human plasma and urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Int J Legal Med 2014; 128:771-8. [PMID: 24997532 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-014-1040-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for simultaneous quantification of fentanyl (F), norfentanyl (NF), despropionylfentanyl (DPF), and hydroxynorfentanyl (OHNF) in human plasma and urine specimens has been developed and validated according to international guidelines. Analytes were extracted from 250-μL plasma or urine by liquid-liquid extraction. OHNF in urine affords a second extraction step and analysis with a different column. Calibration curves in plasma were linear from 0.05-10 ng/mL for F, 0.07-0.5 ng/mL for NF, 0.02-1.0 ng/ml for DPF, and 0.67-3.0 ng/mL for OHNF; in urine, from 0.09-10.0, 0.17-50, 0.08-1.0, and 1.0-5.0 ng/mL for F, NF, DPF, and OHNF, respectively. Analytical bias and intra- and inter-assay imprecision were within ± 15 % of target, except for OHNF in plasma and DPF in urine at the respective lower quality control level. All analytes were stable in processed samples when stored for 24 h at room temperature. Recoveries and process efficiencies were above 82.9 and 75.1 % for all analytes in plasma and urine. The low level of DPF in plasma indicated with a matrix effect of 71.3 % moderate ion suppression, all other analytes in plasma and urine showed no matrix effects. The lower limit of quantification (LOQ) in plasma was 0.05, 0.07, 0.02 and 0.67 ng/mL for F, NF, DPF, and OHNF, respectively. In urine, the LOQ of F, NF, DPF, and OHNF were 0.09, 0.17, 0.08, and 1.28 ng/mL, respectively. This assay has been applied to human specimens collected during a clinical drug-drug interaction study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Sophia Mahlke
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Traffic Medicine, University Hospital, Voss-Str. 2, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany
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Juebner M, Fietzke M, Beike J, Rothschild MA, Bender K. Assisted suicide by fentanyl intoxication due to excessive transdermal application. Int J Legal Med 2014; 128:949-56. [PMID: 24577713 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-014-0982-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we report a case of an assisted suicide committed by application of 34 matrix-based fentanyl-containing transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS) with different release rates. The TTS were supplied by the husband but administered by the deceased herself. Besides routine systematic toxicological analysis (STA), the concentrations of fentanyl and norfentanyl were determined in the blood (femoral and heart), urine, stomach content, brain, lung tissue, musculus iliopsoas, liver, kidney, bile and in some of the used TTS by LC-MS/MS. Blood levels of fentanyl were 60.6 μg/L in femoral blood and 94.1 μg/L in heart blood. These concentrations are in good concordance with levels described in cases with accidental or lethal suicidal fentanyl patch application. The organ distribution indicates an influence of post-mortem redistribution. The levels of residual fentanyl in the TTS were also determined. STA furthermore revealed supratherapeutic levels of bromazepam. Thus, the cause of death was a combination of fentanyl and bromazepam intoxication. However, considering the determined levels of fentanyl and norfentanyl in the entire set of specimens and the high toxicity in comparison to bromazepam, fentanyl was the leading toxic noxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Juebner
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Melatengürtel 60/62, 50823, Cologne, Germany,
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Fentanyl: cause of death or incidental finding? Postmortem peripheral blood concentrations with and without documented transdermal patch use. Forensic Toxicol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-013-0216-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Gill JR, Lin PT, Nelson L. Reliability of postmortem fentanyl concentrations in determining the cause of death. J Med Toxicol 2013; 9:34-41. [PMID: 22890811 DOI: 10.1007/s13181-012-0253-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Transdermal fentanyl, an opioid used for management of marked pain, also is abused and may cause death. METHODS We reviewed medical examiner reports of 92 decedents who had one or more fentanyl transdermal patches on their body and had fentanyl detected in their postmortem toxicology analysis. RESULTS The manners of death included 40 accidents, 36 natural, 8 suicides, 5 therapeutic complications, and 3 undetermined deaths. Among the accidental fentanyl intoxication deaths, 32 of 37 involved substance abuse. The majority (95 %) of the 37 accidental deaths involving fentanyl were multi-drug intoxications. The substance abuse deaths had a mean fentanyl blood concentration (26.4 ng/ml or μg/L) that was over twice that of the natural group (11.8 ng/ml). Our analysis suggests a relationship between total patch dosage and mean postmortem fentanyl concentration up to the 100-μg/h dose. CONCLUSIONS The very wide and overlapping ranges of postmortem fentanyl concentrations effectively nullify the utility of correlating the dose and expected postmortem concentration for any particular death. Based on the variable relationship between dose and blood concentration, the antemortem dose cannot be reliably predicted based on the postmortem concentration. This does not, however, render the medical examiner/coroner unable to determine the cause and manner of death because the toxicology results are only one datum point among several that are considered. Although there was a weakly positive relationship between body mass index and fentanyl concentration, further research is needed to determine whether adipose tissue represents a significant depot for postmortem release of fentanyl.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Gill
- New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and Department of Forensic Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
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Garby DM, Cheryk LA. Synthetic opioid analysis by LC-MS/MS. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2013; 902:65-73. [PMID: 22767108 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-934-1_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Determination of urinary drug concentrations can prove to be very useful in the monitoring of patients who are receiving a variety of synthetic opioids. Through the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, the simultaneous measurement of synthetic opioids provides for smaller sample volume requirements along with gains in throughput and an increase in the sensitivity of the analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Garby
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Medical Laboratories, Wilmington, MA, USA
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Should Postmortem Subclavian Blood be Considered a Peripheral or Central Sample? Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2013; 34:155-8. [DOI: 10.1097/paf.0b013e318288b0d5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Abstract
Opioid analgesic misuse has risen significantly over the past two decades, and these drugs now represent the most commonly abused class of prescription medications. They are a major cause of poisoning deaths in the USA exceeding heroin and cocaine. Laboratory testing plays a role in the detection of opioid misuse and the evaluation of patients with opioid intoxication. Laboratories use both immunoassay and chromatographic methods (e.g., liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection), often in combination, to yield high detection sensitivity and drug specificity. Testing methods for opioids originated in the workplace-testing arena and focused on detection of illicit heroin use. Analysis for a wide range of opioids is now required in the context of the prescription opioid epidemic. Testing methods have also been primarily based upon urine screening; however, methods for analyzing alternative samples such as saliva, sweat, and hair are available. Application of testing to monitor prescription opioid drug therapy is an increasingly important use of drug testing, and this area of testing introduces new interpretative challenges. In particular, drug metabolism may transform one clinically available opioid into another. The sensitivity of testing methods also varies considerably across the spectrum of opioid drugs. An understanding of opioid metabolism and method sensitivity towards different opioid drugs is therefore essential to effective use of these tests. Improved testing algorithms and more research into the effective use of drug testing in the clinical setting, particularly in pain medicine and substance abuse, are needed.
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Berg T, Jørgenrud B, Strand DH. Determination of buprenorphine, fentanyl and LSD in whole blood by UPLC-MS-MS. J Anal Toxicol 2013; 37:159-65. [PMID: 23423312 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkt005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS-MS) method has been developed and validated for the quantification of buprenorphine, fentanyl and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in whole blood. Sample preparation was performed by liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with methyl tert-butyl ether. UPLC-MS-MS analysis was performed with a mobile phase consisting of ammonium formate (pH 10.2) and methanol. Positive electrospray ionization MS-MS detection was performed with two multiple reaction monitoring transitions for each of the analytes and the deuterium labeled internal standards. Limit of detection values of buprenorphine, fentanyl and LSD were 0.28, 0.044 and 0.0097 ng/mL and limit of quantification values were 0.94, 0.14 and 0.036 ng/mL, respectively. Most phospholipids were removed during LLE. No or only minor matrix effects were observed. The method has been routinely used at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health since September 2011 for qualitative and quantitative detections of buprenorphine, fentanyl and/or LSD in more than 400 whole blood samples with two replicates per sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Berg
- Division of Forensic Medicine and Drug Abuse Research, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
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Riches JR, Read RW, Black RM, Cooper NJ, Timperley CM. Analysis of clothing and urine from Moscow theatre siege casualties reveals carfentanil and remifentanil use. J Anal Toxicol 2012; 36:647-56. [PMID: 23002178 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bks078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
On October 26, 2002, Russian Special Forces deployed a chemical aerosol against Chechen terrorists to rescue hostages in the Dubrovka theatre. Its use confirmed Russian military interest in chemicals with effects on personnel and caused 125 deaths through a combination of the aerosol and inadequate medical care. This study provides evidence from liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of extracts of clothing from two British survivors, and urine from a third survivor, that the aerosol comprised a mixture of two anaesthetics--carfentanil and remifentanil--whose relative proportions this study was unable to identify. Carfentanil and remifentanil were found on a shirt sample and a metabolite called norcarfentanil was found in a urine sample. This metabolite probably originated from carfentanil.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Riches
- Detection Department, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory-Dstl, Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 0JQ, UK
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A new drug release method in early development of transdermal drug delivery systems. PAIN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT 2012; 2012:953140. [PMID: 22919478 PMCID: PMC3420136 DOI: 10.1155/2012/953140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 06/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In vitro drug release tests are a widely used tool to measure the variance between transdermal product performances and required by many authorities. However, the result cannot provide a good estimation of the in vivo drug release. In the present work, a new method for measuring drug release from patches has been explored and compared with the conventional USP apparatus 2 and 5 methods. Durogesic patches, here used as a model patch, were placed on synthetic skin simulator and three moisture levels (29, 57, 198 μL cm−2) were evaluated. The synthetic skin simulators were collected after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 24 hours and extracted with pH 1.0 hydrochloric acid solution. The drug concentrations in the extractions were measured by isocratic reverse phase high-pressure liquid chromatography. The results showed that, with the increasing moisture level on the synthetic skin simulator, the drug release rate increased. In comparison with the conventional USP method, the drug release results performed by the new method were in more correlation to the release rate claimed in the product label. This new method could help to differentiate the drug release rates among assorted formulations of transdermal drug delivery systems in the early stage of development.
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Andresen H, Gullans A, Veselinovic M, Anders S, Schmoldt A, Iwersen-Bergmann S, Mueller A. Fentanyl: Toxic or Therapeutic? Postmortem and Antemortem Blood Concentrations After Transdermal Fentanyl Application. J Anal Toxicol 2012; 36:182-94. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bks005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Clavijo CF, Thomas JJ, Cromie M, Schniedewind B, Hoffman KL, Christians U, Galinkin JL. A low blood volume LC-MS/MS assay for the quantification of fentanyl and its major metabolites norfentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl in children. J Sep Sci 2011; 34:3568-77. [DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201100422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2011] [Revised: 07/19/2011] [Accepted: 07/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Almousa AA, Ikeda R, Wada M, Kuroda N, Hanajiri RK, Nakashima K. HPLC-UV method development for fentanyl determination in rat plasma and its application to elucidate pharmacokinetic behavior after i.p. administration to rats. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2011; 879:2941-4. [PMID: 21917532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2011.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2011] [Revised: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/24/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
A simple, rapid and validated high performance liquid chromatography method with UV detection for the quantification of an opioid agonist, fentanyl (FEN), in rat plasma was developed. The assay procedure involved chromatographic separation using a ZIC-HILIC SeQUANT column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, i.d., 5 μm) and a mobile phase of acetonitrile and acetate buffer (pH 3.4, 20mM) of ratio (=65:35, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min and detection wavelength of 201 nm. Plasma sample (100 μL) pretreatment was based on simple deprotienization by acetonitrile spiked with clonidine as an internal standard (I.S.) of 20 ng/mL followed by extraction with tert-butyl methyl ether and centrifugation. The organic layer was evaporated under N(2) gas and reconstituted with 100 μL of acetate buffer (pH 3.4, 20mM), and 50-μL portions of reconstituted sample were injected onto the column. Sample analysis including sample pretreatment was achieved within 35 min. Calibration curve was linear (r ≥ 0.998) from 5 to 100 ng/mL. Both intra- and inter-day assay precisions that are presented through RSD were lower than 12.6% for intra-day and lower than 12.0% for inter-day assessment. Limit of detection was 0.8 ng/mL at S/N of 3. This method was omitting the use of expensive solid phase extraction and time consuming liquid extraction procedures. Moreover, the present method was successfully applied to study pharmacokinetic parameters of FEN after intraperitoneal administration to male Wistar rat. Pharmacokinetic parameters estimated by using moment analysis were T(1/2) 198.3 ± 44.7 min, T(max) 28.3 ± 2.9 min and AUC(0-180) 15.6 ± 2.9(× 10(2))ngmin/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Almousa
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
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Barroso M, Gallardo E, Vieira DN, Queiroz JA, López-Rivadulla M. Bioanalytical procedures and recent developments in the determination of opiates/opioids in human biological samples. Anal Bioanal Chem 2011; 400:1665-90. [PMID: 21442365 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-011-4888-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2010] [Revised: 03/06/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The use and abuse of illegal drugs affects all modern societies, and therefore the assessment of drug exposure is an important task that needs to be accomplished. For this reason, the reliable determination of these drugs and their metabolites in biological specimens is an issue of utmost relevance for both clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories in their fields of expertise, including in utero drug exposure, driving under the influence of drugs and drug use in workplace scenarios. Most of the confirmatory analyses for abused drugs in biological samples are performed by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods, but use of the more recent and sensitive liquid chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry technology is increasing dramatically. This article reviews recently published articles that describe procedures for the detection of opiates in the most commonly used human biological matrices, blood and urine, and also in unconventional ones, e.g. oral fluid, hair, and meconium. Special attention will be paid to sample preparation and chromatographic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Barroso
- Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal-Delegação do Sul, Rua Manuel Bento de Sousa, 3, 1150-219 Lisboa, Portugal.
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Development of a homogeneous immunoassay for the detection of fentanyl in urine. Forensic Sci Int 2011; 206:127-31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2010.07.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2010] [Revised: 06/28/2010] [Accepted: 07/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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