Structural studies of Trenbolone, Trenbolone Acetate, Hexahydrobenzylcarbonate and Enanthate esters

Crystal Structure and Intermolecular Energy for Some Nandrolone Esters

Nandrolone (Estr-4-en-17β-ol-3-one) is a derivative of testosterone and a naturally occurring anabolic-androgenic agent which belongs to the steroid group. Crystal structures of four short, medium and long esterified forms of nandrolone, including propionate, phenylpropionate, cypionate and undecanoate were determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal packing, supramolecular features and intermolecular interactions were described based on a quantitative and qualitative Hirshfeld surfaces analysis accompanied by evaluation of crystal energies and intermolecular interactions computation. Also, the solubility of the esters was investigated from a pharmaceutical perspective.

'My mind pretty much went to mush': A qualitative exploration of trenbolone in the performance and image enhancing drug community

INTRODUCTION

There are a variety of harms associated with anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS), with some AAS associated with an increased risk profile for users. Despite potentially different risk profiles, these harms are seldom discussed with respect to specific compounds although recent ethnographic research has identified a need to do so. Specifically, myth has developed among users with trenbolone reportedly having more dramatic effects on individuals, with reports of aggression, violent behaviour and extreme mood disturbances, and this is reflected in extant literature. This paper aims to report on the narrative surrounding the use of trenbolone among AAS users.

METHOD

As part of a larger qualitative study, a number of AAS users were interviewed regarding their usage practices. A narrative emerged regarding the physical and psychological harms which accompanied their AAS use of which trenbolone played a central role (N = 16).

RESULTS

Of all the AAS, trenbolone was viewed as having the most deleterious consequences for those who used it. Users reported an extreme shift in risk profile for psychosocial harms, particularly increased aggression and violent behaviour, as well as impulsivity regulation issues. AAS-using peers and family members of users reported the readily observable effect of trenbolone.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Users should be cognisant of the potential for significant harms and health-care providers working with this group may consider more focused screening strategies. Future policy decisions regarding AAS may wish to consider the pivotal role trenbolone plays in adverse outcomes for this unique group of substance users.

Structural Insights and Intermolecular Energy for Some Medium and Long-Chain Testosterone Esters

Testosterone (17β-Hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one) is the primary male anabolic-androgenic steroid. The crystal structures of two medium and two long esterified forms of testosterone, including enanthate, cypionate, decanoate and undecanoate, were determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction. The samples were also characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal analysis (DTA, TG). Crystal packings and supramolecular features were described. The analysis of structural features was accomplished by computational methods in terms of the type of intermolecular interactions, crystal energies and Hirshfeld surfaces analysis. From a pharmaceutical point of view, the solubility of compounds was investigated.

Structural Aspects and Intermolecular Energy for Some Short Testosterone Esters

Testosterone (17β-hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one) is the primary naturally occurring anabolic-androgenic steroid. The crystal structures of three short esterified forms of testosterone, including propionate, phenylpropionate, and isocaproate ester, were determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, all the samples were investigated using powder X-ray diffraction, and their structural features were described and evaluated in terms of crystal energies and Hirshfeld surfaces. They were also compared with the base form of testosterone (without ester) and the acetate ester. Moreover, from a pharmaceutical perspective, their solubility was evaluated and correlated with the length of the ester.

Zinc-Based Metal-Organic Framework with MLCT Properties as an Efficient Electrochemiluminescence Probe for Trace Detection of Trenbolone

In this work, we utilized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) derivatives as ligands to develop a zinc-based metal-organic framework (Zn-MOF) as an effective detection probe to construct an electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor for trenbolone detection. As traditional ECL emitters, PAHs and their derivatives have limited luminescence efficiency because of the aggregation-induced quenching (ACQ) effect. Therefore, Zn-PTC was designed by the coordination of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic (PTC) in the MOF to eliminate the ACQ effect. Meanwhile, Zn-PTC formed based on an aromatic ligand possessed the metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) effect, which could transfer the energy of Zn²⁺ to the aromatic ligand for strong luminescence. The ECL efficiency of Zn-PTC was calculated to be approximately 2.2 times that of the ligand (K₄PTC). Second, the Ag@Fe core-shell bimetallic nanocrystal was prepared for efficient activation of persulfate (S₂O₈^2-), thereby generating more sulfate radicals (SO₄^•-) to further promote ECL emission. According to ECL characterizations, UV-vis and fluorescence spectra, and density functional theory calculations, the luminescence and signal amplification mechanisms were investigated. In addition, NKFRGKYKC (NKF) was introduced as an affinity ligand to directionally immobilize the target antibodies, thus releasing specific sites in their Fab fragment to enhance binding activity. Based on the above strategies, the constructed biosensor exhibited high sensitivity, realizing trace detection of TBE with a wide detection range (10 fg/mL-100 ng/mL) and a low detection limit (3.28 fg/mL). This study provided an important reference for sensitive monitoring of steroid pollutants in the environment.

A Portable Microfluidic-Based Electrochemiluminescence Sensor for Trace Detection of Trenbolone in Natural Water

In this study, a portable electrochemiluminescence sensor chip was designed for trenbolone (TBE) trace detection in environmental water. First, a stable ECL signal was obtained with low-toxicity 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic acid (PTCA) as a luminophore and persulfate (S₂O₈^2-) as a coreactant. Second, hollow-structured Cu₂MoS₄ was introduced as a coreaction accelerator to catalyze S₂O₈^2- reduction. The reversible conversion of the mixed-valence transition metal ions in Cu₂MoS₄ (Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ and Mo⁴⁺/Mo⁶⁺) greatly promoted the generation of the sulfate radical (SO₄^•-). Meanwhile, the special porous structure of Cu₂MoS₄ possessed a large specific surface area, thus enhancing its catalytic performance. Based on these enhancement mechanisms, a strong ECL signal was acquired, which improved the detection sensitivity of the constructed sensor. Importantly, a microfluidic chip was introduced for sensing detection, thereby improving the practicality of the sensor. The developed sensor chip was miniature and portable, exhibiting high sensitivity for TBE detection with a wide linear range (10 fg/mL-100 ng/mL) and lower detection limit (3.32 fg/mL). This was of great significance for timely and rapid analysis of steroid pollutants in natural water.

Solid forms and β-cyclodextrin complexation of turinabol

4-Chloro-17β-hydroxy-17α-methylandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one (C20H27ClO2), known as turinabol, is a synthetic anabolic–androgenic agent which belongs to the steroid class. Recrystallization from various solvents was performed and the following new solid forms of turinabol were obtained: the hemihydrate (C20H27ClO2·0.5H2O), the anhydrous form (C20H27ClO2), the multicomponent acetic acid hydrate (2C20H27ClO2·C2H4O2·H2O) and the 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol hemisolvate (C20H27ClO2·0.5C2H3F3O). The absolute structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The starting hemihydrate form contains one turinabol molecule in the asymmetric unit, while the others contain two molecules in the asymmetric unit. Structural features were investigated in terms of the conformational analysis of the steroid skeleton rings and intermolecular interactions. The magnitudes, the nature of the crystal structure energies and the intermolecular interactions were also evaluated. Complexation with β-cyclodextrin was performed and the obtained complex was investigated using powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared (FT–IR) spectroscopy and differential thermal analysis/thermogravimetric analysis (DTA/TGA).