Determination of lysergide (LSD) and phencyclidine in biosamples

Systematic characterization of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide metabolites in Caenorhabditis elegans by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry

Psychedelic compounds have gained renewed interest for their potential therapeutic applications, but their metabolism and effects on complex biological systems remain poorly understood. Here, we present a systematic characterization of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) metabolites in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans using state-of-the-art analytical techniques. By employing ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry, we putatively identified a range of LSD metabolites, shedding light on their metabolic pathways and offering insights into their pharmacokinetics. Our study demonstrates the suitability of Caenorhabditis elegans as a valuable model system for investigating the metabolism of psychedelic compounds and provides a foundation for further research on the therapeutic potential of LSD.

Separating the wheat from the chaff: Observations on the analysis of lysergamides LSD, MIPLA, and LAMPA

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent psychoactive substance that has attracted great interest in clinical research. As the pharmacological exploration of LSD analogs continues to grow, some of those analogs have appeared on the street market. Given that LSD analogs are uncontrolled in many jurisdictions, it is important that these analogs be differentiated from LSD. This report presents the analysis of blotters found to contain the N-methyl-N-isopropyl isomer of LSD (MIPLA), and techniques to differentiate it from LSD and the N-methyl-N-propyl isomer (LAMPA) under routine conditions. Gas chromatography (GC)-solid phase infrared spectroscopy was particularly helpful. GC-electron ionization-tandem mass spectrometry of the m/z 72 iminium ion also provided sufficient information to distinguish the three isomers on mass spectral grounds alone, where chromatographic separation proved challenging. Derivatization with 2,2,2-trifluoro-N,N-bis (trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSTFA) also led to improved GC separation. Liquid chromatography single quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-Q-MS) and in-source collision-induced dissociation allowed for the differentiation between MIPLA and LAMPA based on distinct m/z 239 ion ratios when co-eluting. An alternative LC-MS/MS method improved the separation between all three lysergamides, but LSD was found to co-elute with iso-LSD. However, a comparison of ion ratios recorded for transitions at m/z 324.2 > 223.2 and m/z 324.2 > 208.2 facilitated their differentiation. The analysis of two blotters by LC-Q-MS revealed the presence of 180 and 186 μg MIPLA per blotter. These procedures may be used to avoid inadvertent misidentification of MIPLA or LAMPA as LSD.

Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for determination of phencyclidine in human serum and its application to human drug abuse cases

A new analytical method was developed and validated for the rapid determination of phencyclidine (PCP) in human blood and serum. Rapid chromatographic separation decreased the analysis time relative to standard gas chromatography (GC)-based methodologies. The method involved the use of solid-phase extraction for sample preparation and cleanup followed by liquid chromatography tandem spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) analysis and an electrospray-ionization (ESI) interface. PCP was quantified using multiple-reaction-monitoring with deuterium labeled PCP (PCP-d(5)) as an internal standard. The method was validated for accuracy, precision, linearity, and recovery. The method was accurate with error <14% and precision with coefficient of variation (CV) <5.0%. The assay was linear over the entire range of calibration standards (r(2) > 0.997). The recovery of PCP after solid-phase extraction was greater than 90% with the lower limit of detection (LLOD) for PCP in 500 µl of human serum after solid-phase extraction at 0.06 ng ml(-1). This method was used to determine the levels of PCP in postmortem human blood samples. The LLOD in blood was 1 ng ml(-1). Blood PCP concentrations were also determined separately using GC and flame ionization detection (FID). Blood calibration standards and serum calibration standards yielded similar concentrations when used to quantitate authentic human blood samples that tested positive for PCP under the GC-FID method. Extraction of PCP from serum required fewer steps and therefore could be used as a calibration matrix in place of blood. The LC-MS/MS methodology shown here was higher throughput compared with GC-based methods because of very short chromatographic run times. This was accomplished without sacrificing analytical sensitivity.

Chloroquine psychosis masquerading as PCP: a case report

Chloroquine and its derivatives have been drugs of choice in the prophylaxis and treatment of malaria for over 50 years. These drugs are also frequently used in the treatment of various rheumatologic disorders. Because many Americans now travel abroad and may require chloroquine prophylaxis, as well as the fact that such medications are readily available through Internet-based supply houses, clinicians should be aware of the potential toxicity associated with the use of these agents. We present the case of an adolescent female who presented with acute, chloroquine-induced toxic psychosis resembling that induced by phencyclidine (PCP) in clinical presentation and laboratory findings. In the acute setting, the differentiation between chloroquine toxic psychosis and PCP psychosis may be difficult. Therefore, the syndrome of chloroquine-induced psychosis is reviewed and its differentiation from PCP psychosis highlighted as it relates to important aspects of this case.

Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry determination of LSD, ISO-LSD, and the main metabolite 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD in forensic samples and application in a forensic case

A liquid chromatography mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method has been developed for the determination of LSD, iso-LSD and the metabolite 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD in forensic applications. The procedure involves liquid-liquid extraction of the analytes and LSD-D3 (internal standard) from 1.0 g whole blood or 1.0 ml urine with butyl acetate at pH 9.8. Confirmation and quantification were done by positive electrospray ionisation with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer operating in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Two MRM transitions of each compound were established and identification criteria were set up based on the retention time and the ion ratio. The curves of extracted standards were linear over a working range of 0.01-50 microg/kg for all transitions of LSD and iso-LSD. The limit of quantification was 0.01 microg/kg for LSD and iso-LSD. The method was applied to a case investigation involving a 26-year-old male suspected for having attempted homicide, where blood concentrations of LSD and iso-LSD were determined to 0.27 and 0.44 microg/kg, respectively. 2-Oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD was detected in the urine and confirmed the LSD abuse. The case illustrated the importance of analyte separation before MRM detection of a sample due to identical fragmentation ions of the isomers.

Recent advances in chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods for determination of LSD and its metabolites in physiological specimens

The detection of LSD use continues to be a challenge for toxicology laboratories due to the very low concentrations of LSD and its metabolites in body fluids. However, significant progress has been made in the development of more sensitive and specific analytical methods. Techniques that have proven particularly effective include: (1) immunoaffinity extraction, (2) gas chromatography coupled with chemical ionization and tandem mass spectrometric detection, and (3) liquid chromatography in combination with electrospray ionization and either single-stage or tandem mass spectrometric detection. In addition, a major metabolite of LSD, 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD, has been identified and found to be present in far higher concentrations than LSD in most LSD-positive urine samples.

Pharmacokinetic applications of capillary electrophoresis

This review briefly discusses the use of capillary electrophoretic (CE) methods for the investigations of different aspects of pharmacokinetics. In most investigations, CE was the method of choice because of its unique features, including high resolving power for chiral or metabolite separation, small sample volume for pediatric pharmacokinetics or for cell-based investigations, in situ microdialysis sampling for rapid eliminations, low UV wavelength detection for nonderivatized analytes, fast and simplified sample processing for existing methods that require tedious sample preparation, or as a second method for verifications. Moreover, instrumental aspects of CE-based assays for pharmacokinetic studies, such as different modes of CE methods for analyzing biological samples, sample stacking for increasing detection sensitivity, and coupling techniques with microdialysis and mass spectrometry, are also discussed in this review. Furthermore, the advantages and limitations of CE methods as well as the future outlook for pharmacokinetic studies are summarized.

Detection of metabolites of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in human urine specimens: 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD, a prevalent metabolite of LSD

Seventy-four urine specimens previously found to contain lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were analyzed by a new procedure for the LSD metabolite 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD (O-H-LSD) using a Finnigan LC-MS-MS system. This procedure proved to be less complex, shorter to perform and provides cleaner chromatographic characteristics than the method currently utilized by the Navy Drug Screening Laboratories for the extraction of LSD from urine by GC-MS. All of the specimens used in the study screened positive for LSD by radioimmunoassay (Roche Abuscreen). Analysis by GC-MS revealed detectable amounts of LSD in all of the specimens. In addition, isolysergic diethylamide (iso-LSD), a byproduct of LSD synthesis, was quantitated in 64 of the specimens. Utilizing the new LC-MS-MS method, low levels of N-desmethyl-LSD (nor-LSD), another identified LSD metabolite, were detected in some of the specimens. However, all 74 specimens contained O-H-LSD at significantly higher concentrations than LSD, iso-LSD, or nor-LSD alone. The O-H-LSD concentration ranged from 732 to 112 831 pg/ml (mean, 16340 pg/ml) by quantification with an internal standard. The ratio of O-H-LSD to LSD ranged from 1.1 to 778.1 (mean, 42.9). The presence of O-H-LSD at substantially higher concentrations than LSD suggests that the analysis for O-H-LSD as the target analyte by employing LC-MS-MS will provide a much longer window of detection for the use of LSD than the analysis of the parent compound, LSD.

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in forensic and clinical toxicology

This paper reviews liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) procedures for the identification and/or quantification of drugs of abuse, therapeutic drugs, poisons and/or their metabolites in biosamples (whole blood, plasma, serum, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous humor, liver or hair) of humans or animals (cattle, dog, horse, mouse, pig or rat). Papers published from 1995 to early 1997, which are relevant to clinical toxicology, forensic toxicology, doping control or drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics, were taken into consideration. They cover the following analytes: amphetamines, cocaine, lysergide (LSD), opiates, anabolics, antihypertensives, benzodiazepines, cardiac glycosides, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, neuroleptics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), opioids, quaternary amines, xanthins, biogenic poisons such as aconitines, aflatoxins, amanitins and nicotine, and pesticides. LC-MS interface types, mass spectral detection modes, sample preparation procedures and chromatographic systems applied in the reviewed papers are discussed. Basic information about the biosample assayed, work-up, LC column, mobile phase, interface type, mass spectral detection mode, and validation data of each procedure is summarized in tables. Examples of typical LC-MS applications are presented.