Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry determination of morphine and its isobaric glucuronide metabolites

The Application of Metabolomics in Forensic Science with Focus on Forensic Toxicology and Time-of-Death Estimation

Recently, the diagnostic methods used by scientists in forensic examinations have enormously expanded. Metabolomics provides an important contribution to analytical method development. The main purpose of this review was to investigate and summarize the most recent applications of metabolomics in forensic science. The primary research method was an extensive review of available international literature in PubMed. The keywords “forensic” and “metabolomics” were used as search criteria for the PubMed database scan. Most authors emphasized the analysis of different biological sample types using chromatography methods. The presented review is a summary of recently published implementations of metabolomics in forensic science and types of biological material used and techniques applied. Possible opportunities for valuable metabolomics’ applications are discussed to emphasize the essential necessities resulting in numerous nontargeted metabolomics’ assays.

Sensitivity Enhancement for Direct Injection Capillary Electrophoresis to Determine Morphine in Human Serum via In-capillary Derivatization

Rapid and simple micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with in-capillary derivatization and fluorescence detection has been developed to determine morphine in human serum. The sample was introduced into a background electrolyte (BGE) containing potassium ferricyanide, whereas morphine was oxidized into highly fluorescent product, pseudomorphine. Different parameters for derivatization and subsequent separation were systematically investigated for the analysis of morphine in serum. Efficient performance of the developed MEKC system was carried out in a single run using BGE made up of 70 mM sodium tetraborate decahydrate (pH 10.5), 0.30 mM potassium ferrricyanide, 80 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate, and applied voltage of 9 kV. The combination of MEKC with in-capillary derivatization of morphine was successfully achieved with a high degree of sensitivity. The validation of the method showed good linearity between areas of morphine and the corresponding concentrations over the range of 5-5000 ng/mL. Excellent accuracy and precision were obtained at all concentration levels. The mean recoveries of morphine were ranging from 83.86 to 94.45%. The validated MEKC method successfully permitted determination of morphine in clinical samples after a single oral dose of controlled release morphine sulfate tablets.

Applications of liquid-based separation in conjunction with mass spectrometry to the analysis of forensic evidence

In the past few years, there has been a significant effort by the forensic science community to develop new scientific techniques for the analysis of forensic evidence. Forensic chemists have been spearheaded to develop information-rich confirmatory technologies and techniques and apply them to a broad array of forensic challenges. The purpose of these confirmatory techniques is to provide alternatives to presumptive techniques that rely on data such as color changes, pattern matching, or retention time alone, which are prone to more false positives. To this end, the application of separation techniques in conjunction with mass spectrometry has played an important role in the analysis of forensic evidence. Moreover, in the past few years the role of liquid separation techniques, such as liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis in conjunction with mass spectrometry, has gained significant tractions and have been applied to a wide range of chemicals, from small molecules such as drugs and explosives, to large molecules such as proteins. For example, proteomics and peptidomics have been used for identification of humans, organs, and bodily fluids. A wide range of HPLC techniques including reversed phase, hydrophilic interaction, mixed-mode, supercritical fluid, multidimensional chromatography, and nanoLC, as well as several modes of capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry, including capillary zone electrophoresis, partial filling, full filling, and micellar electrokenetic chromatography have been applied to the analysis drugs, explosives, and questioned documents. In this article, we review recent (2015-2017) applications of liquid separation in conjunction with mass spectrometry to the analysis of forensic evidence.

Analytical Considerations When Developing an LC-MS/MS Method for More than 30 Analytes

BACKGROUND

While validation of analytical (LC-MS/MS) methods has been documented in any number of articles and reference texts, the optimal design and subsequent validation of a method for over 30 analytes presents special challenges. Conventional approaches to calibration curves, controls, and run time are not tenable in such methods. This report details the practical aspects of designing and implementing such a method in accordance with College of American Pathologists validation criteria.

METHODS

Conventional criteria were followed in the design and validation of a method for 34 analytes and 15 internal standards by LC-MS/MS. These criteria are laid out in a standard operating procedure, which is followed without exception and is consistent with College of American Pathologists criteria.

RESULTS

The method presented herein provides quality results and accurate medication monitoring. The method was optimized to negate interferences (both from within the method and from potential concomitant compounds), increase throughput, and provide reproducible quality quantification over relevant analyte concentrations ranges.

CONCLUSIONS

The method was designed primarily with quality and accurate medication monitoring in mind. The method achieves these goals by use of novel approaches to calibration curves and controls that both improve performance and minimize risk (financial and operational). As automation and LC-MS/MS equipment continue to improve, it is expected that more methods like this one will be developed.

Recent advances in CE and microchip-CE in clinical applications: 2014 to mid-2017

CE and microchip CE (ME) are powerful tools for the analysis of a number of different analytes and have been applied to a variety of clinical fields and human samples. This review will present an overview of the most recent applications of these techniques to different areas of clinical medicine during the period of 2014 to mid-2017. CE and ME have been applied to clinical chemistry, drug detection and monitoring, hematology, infectious diseases, oncology, endocrinology, neonatology, nephrology, and genetic screening. Samples examined range from serum, plasma, and urine to lest utilized materials such as tears, cerebral spinal fluid, sweat, saliva, condensed breath, single cells, and biopsy tissue. Examples of clinical applications will be given along with the various detection systems employed.

Development of Quantum Dots-Labeled Antibody Fluorescence Immunoassays for the Detection of Morphine

Quantum dots (QDs)-labeled antibody fluorescence immunoassays (FLISA) for the detection of morphine were developed. Quantum dots (CdSe/ZnS), which contained carboxyl, were used to label antimorphine antibody by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminoprophyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride/N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide, which were used as coupling reagents. The CdSe/ZnS QDs labeled antimorphine antibody (QDs labeled Ab) was characterized by fluorescence spectrum and gel electrophoresis. Plate-based FLISA and nitrocellulose membrane-based flow-through FLISA were developed and applied to quantitative and qualitative detection of morphine. Under the optimal conditions for plate-based FLISA, the linear range spanned from 3.2 × 10^-4 to 1 mg/L (R² = 0.9905), and the detection limit was 2.7 × 10^-4 mg/L. The visual detection limit for morphine by membrane-based flow-through FLISA was 0.01 mg/L. These results demonstrated that the developed fluorescence immunoassays could be applied as highly sensitive and convenient tools for rapid detection of morphine, which make it ideally suited for on-site screening of poppy shell added illegally in hot pot soup base.

Ultrasonic-assisted magnetic solid phase extraction of morphine in urine samples by new imprinted polymer-supported on MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs: Central composite design optimization

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were magnetized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MWCNTs-Fe3O4-NPs) and subsequently coated by vinyl end groups (Vinyltrimethoxysilane). MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs were used as support for a new morphine (MO) molecularly imprinted polymer (MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP) by surface imprinting polymerization method. The MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP was characterized by FTIR, VSM and SEM techniques and successfully used for determination of MO. Ultrasonic-assisted magnetic solid phase extraction followed by UV-vis spectrophotometer (UAMSPE-UV-vis) was investigated for MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP and compared with non-imprinted polymer (NIP) using batch method. Central composite design under response surface methodology was used for the evaluation of the effect of variables, individually, as well as their possible interaction effects on the adsorption process. The variables such as sonication time, MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP mass, initial concentration of MO and pH were investigated in this study. At optimum experimental conditions, UAMSPE-UV-vis method was exhibited a linear range of 0.8-8.7mgL(-1) of the MO concentration with a detection limit of 0.18mgL(-1). The relative standard deviation for the analyte was found to be lower than 2.32%. The MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP adsorption capacity was found to be 37.01mgg(-1). The enrichment and preconcentration factors were found to be 107.01 and 98.21, respectively. The developed method was finally applied successfully to the determination of MO in urine and wastewater samples with the recoveries ranged from 96.40 to 105.6%.

Investigation of signaling molecules and metabolites found in crustacean hemolymph via in vivo microdialysis using a multifaceted mass spectrometric platform

Neurotransmitters (NTs) are endogenous signaling molecules that play an important role in regulating various physiological processes in animals. Detection of these chemical messengers is often challenging due to their low concentration levels and fast degradation rate in vitro. In order to address these challenges, herein we employed in vivo microdialysis (MD) sampling to study NTs in the crustacean model Cancer borealis. Multifaceted separation tools, such as CE and ion mobility mass spectrometry (MS) were utilized in this work. Small molecules were separated by different mechanisms and detected by MALDI mass spectrometric imaging (MALDI-MSI). Performance of this separation-based MSI platform was also compared to LC-ESI-MS. By utilizing both MALDI and ESI-MS, a total of 208 small molecule NTs and metabolites were identified, of which 39 were identified as signaling molecules secreted in vivo. In addition, the inherent property of sub microscale sample consumption using CE enables shorter time of MD sample collection. Temporal resolution of MD was improved by approximately tenfold compared to LC-ESI-MS, indicating the significant advantage of applying separation-assisted MALDI-MS imaging platform.

Molecularly imprinted polymers on multi-walled carbon nanotubes as an efficient absorbent for preconcentration of morphine and its chemiluminometric determination

A simple and selective method was described for the determination of morphine based on its preconcentration by molecularly imprinted polymers on multi-walled carbon nanotubes prior to its chemiluminometric recognition.