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Zawadzki M, Kowalski G, Chłopaś-Konowałek A, Siczek M, Sobieszczańska M, Leppert W, Wieczorowska-Tobis K, Szpot P. Rapid Determination of Sufentanil in Human Plasma by UHPLC-QqQ-MS-MS. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 45:605-611. [PMID: 32901795 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper presents a rapid, sensitive and precise method developed and validated for the quantification of sufentanil in biological samples using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with QqQ-MS-MS. Plasma samples were extracted with simple and fast liquid-liquid extraction (ethyl acetate, pH 9). Calibration curve showed linearity in the concentration range of 0.005-30 µg/L. The lower limit of quantification was 0.010 µg/L. The most important method features are low lower limit of quantification value, simple plasma extraction and small sample volume. This method is suitable not only for evaluation of the pharmacokinetics, toxicology, bioavailability and clinical pharmacology of sufentanil but also for the detection and identification of this compound in human plasma samples for forensic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Zawadzki
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland.,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55-093 Borowa, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Kowalski
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 55 Rusa Street, 61-245 Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Marta Siczek
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Sobieszczańska
- Department and Clinic of Geriatrics, Wroclaw Medical University, 66 Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie Street, 50-369 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Wojciech Leppert
- Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 55 Rusa Street, 61-245 Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Paweł Szpot
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland.,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55-093 Borowa, Poland
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Tabarra I, Soares S, Rosado T, Gonçalves J, Luís Â, Malaca S, Barroso M, Keller T, Restolho J, Gallardo E. Novel synthetic opioids - toxicological aspects and analysis. Forensic Sci Res 2019; 4:111-140. [PMID: 31304442 PMCID: PMC6609355 DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2019.1588933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few years, there has been an emerging number of new psychoactive drugs. These drugs are frequently mentioned as "legal highs", "herbal highs", "bath salts" and "research chemicals". They are mostly sold and advertised on online forums and on the dark web. The emerging new psychoactive substances are designed to mimic the effects of psychoactive groups, which are often abused drugs. Novel synthetic opioids are a new trend in this context and represent an alarming threat to public health. Given the wide number of fatalities related to these compounds reported within the last few years, it is an important task to accurately identify these compounds in biologic matrices in order to administer an effective treatment and reverse the respiratory depression caused by opioid related substances. Clinicians dealing with fentanyl intoxication cases should consider that it could, in fact, be a fentanyl analogue. For this reason, it is a helpful recommendation to include synthetic opioids in the routine toxicological screening procedures, including analysis in alternative matrices, if available, to investigate poly-drug use and possible tolerance to opioids. To address this public health problem, better international collaboration, effective legislation, effective investigation, control of suspicious "research chemicals" online forums and continuous community alertness are required. This article aims to review diverse reported fatalities associated with new synthetic opioids describing them in terms of pharmacology, metabolism, posology, available forms, as well as their toxic effects, highlighting the sample procedures and analytical techniques available for their detection and quantification in biological matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Tabarra
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Sofia Soares
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia - UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Tiago Rosado
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia - UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Joana Gonçalves
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ângelo Luís
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Sara Malaca
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia - UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Mário Barroso
- Serviço de Química e Toxicologia Forenses, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses, Delegação do Sul, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Thomas Keller
- Departament of Toxicology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Salzburg, Austria
| | - José Restolho
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
- nal von minden GmbH, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Eugenia Gallardo
- Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde (CICS-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
- Laboratório de Fármaco-Toxicologia - UBIMedical, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal
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New synthetic opioids in biological and non-biological matrices: A review of current analytical methods. Trends Analyt Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Saari TI, Fechner J, Ihmsen H, Schüttler J, Jeleazcov C. Determination of total and unbound sufentanil in human plasma by ultrafiltration and LC–MS/MS: Application to clinical pharmacokinetic study. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2012; 66:306-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2012.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Rapid UPLC–MS/MS method for the determination of sufentanil in human plasma and its application in target-controlled infusion system. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2011; 54:838-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2010.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2010] [Revised: 11/09/2010] [Accepted: 11/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Simultaneous screening and quantification of 25 opioid drugs in post-mortem blood and urine by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Forensic Sci Int 2009; 186:36-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2008] [Revised: 12/30/2008] [Accepted: 01/14/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Schmidt R, Bremerich DH, Geisslinger G. High sensitive determination of sufentanil in human plasma of parturients and neonates following patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2006; 836:98-107. [PMID: 16621739 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2006.03.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2006] [Revised: 03/20/2006] [Accepted: 03/25/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A validated method for the determination of sufentanil in human plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is described. Sufentanil was extracted from human plasma with solid-phase-extraction using deuterated sufentanil, [(2)H(5)]-sufentanil, as internal standard. Sufentanil and the internal standard were determined with an API 4000 tandem mass spectrometer equipped with a Turbo-V-Source operating in positive ESI mode on an Alltima HP HILIC straight phase column. The method showed a lower limit of quantification of 0.25 pg/ml (12.5 fg on column). The applicability of the method is shown in a clinical study, in which levels of sufentanil in plasma of parturients and arterial umbilical plasma of their neonates following patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA) under several regimen treatments was analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Schmidt
- pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES/Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
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Pihlainen K, Grigoras K, Franssila S, Ketola R, Kotiaho T, Kostiainen R. Analysis of amphetamines and fentanyls by atmospheric pressure desorption/ionization on silicon mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry and its application to forensic analysis of drug seizures. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2005; 40:539-545. [PMID: 15712357 DOI: 10.1002/jms.831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The suitability of atmospheric pressure desorption/ionization on silicon mass spectrometry (AP-DIOS-MS) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (AP-MALDI-MS) for the identification of amphetamines and fentanyls in forensic samples was studied. With both ionization techniques, the mass spectra recorded showed abundant protonated molecules, and the background did not disturb the analysis. The use of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) allowed unambiguous identification of the amphetamines and fentanyls. AP-DIOS-MS/MS and AP-MALDI-MS/MS were also successfully applied to the identification of authentic compounds from drug seizures. Common diluents and tablet materials did not disturb the analysis and compounds were unequivocally identified. The limits of detection (LODs) for amphetamines and fentanyls with AP-DIOS-MS/MS were 1-3 pmol, indicating excellent sensitivity of the method. The LODs with AP-MALDI-MS/MS were about 5-10 times higher.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Pihlainen
- University of Helsinki, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 56, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland
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Maurer HH. Advances in analytical toxicology: the current role of liquid chromatography?mass spectrometry in drug quantification in blood and oral fluid. Anal Bioanal Chem 2004; 381:110-8. [PMID: 15309372 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-004-2774-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2004] [Revised: 07/13/2004] [Accepted: 07/14/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews procedures for quantification of drugs in the biosamples blood, plasma, serum, or oral fluid (saliva, etc.) using liquid chromatography coupled with single-stage or tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS, LC-MS-MS). Such procedures are important prerequisites for competent toxicological judgment and consultation in clinical and forensic toxicology. They cover blood (plasma, serum) analysis of amphetamines and related designer drugs, anesthetics, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, opioids, serotonergic drugs, tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptics, antihistamines, beta-blockers, muscle relaxants, and sulfonylurea-type antidiabetics, and oral fluid analysis of amphetamines and related designer drugs, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, codeine, morphine, enantiomers of methadone and its main metabolite 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), the nicotine metabolites cotinine and hydroxycotinine, and finally risperidone and its metabolite 9-hydroxyrisperidone. Basic information on the procedures is given in two tables and an example of quantification is illustrated in two figures. The pros and cons of such LC-MS procedures including sample work-up and ion suppression effects are critically discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans H Maurer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Saarland, 66421 Homburg (Saar), Germany.
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Koch DE, Isaza R, Carpenter JW, Hunter RP. Simultaneous extraction and quantitation of fentanyl and norfentanyl from primate plasma with LC/MS detection. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2004; 34:577-84. [PMID: 15127814 DOI: 10.1016/s0731-7085(03)00652-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The quantitation of both fentanyl and its desalkyl metabolite, norfentanyl, in plasma using LC/MS has not been previously described. The detection and quantitation of fentanyl and norfentanyl was achieved using LC/MS detection. The liquid-liquid extraction used toluene as the organic phase. Chromatography was carried out using a Zirchrom-PBD (50 mm x 2.1 mm, 3 microm) column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-ammonium acetate (10 mM), citrate (0.1 mM, pH 4.4) (45:55, v/v) with a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. Mass spectroscopy detection was performed using ESI in the positive mode. The LOQ for fentanyl was 25 pg/ml and norfentanyl was 50 pg/ml. For the concentrations of 75, 250, and 750 pg/ml, respectively, fentanyl had inter-day precisions of 6.6, 7.2, and 6.6% with accuracies of 4.0, 5.1, and 5.1% and intra-day precisions of 1.6, 1.9, and 1.9% with accuracies of 11.6, 9.4, and 8.4%, and norfentanyl had inter-day precisions of 7.4, 0.3, and 0.7% with accuracies of 9.1, 8.8, and 12.3% and intra-day precisions of 5.3, 1.4, and 0.1% with accuracies of 10.9, 8.9, and 12.8%. The recoveries of fentanyl were 85, 92, and 75% and of norfentanyl were 40, 49, and 46% at the 75, 250, and 750 pg/ml concentrations, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- D E Koch
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Zoological Pharmacology Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, 129 Coles Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506-5802, USA
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Hunter RP, Koch DE, Mutlow A, Isaza R. Extraction and quantitation of carfentanil and naltrexone in goat plasma with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2003; 793:351-5. [PMID: 12906910 DOI: 10.1016/s1570-0232(03)00351-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This method is the first analytical method for the detection and quantitation of carfentanil and naltrexone at clinically relevant concentrations using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Samples were alkalinized with 100 microl of 1 M NaOH and extracted 2x with 2 ml of toluene. The extractions were combined and dried under N(2) at 40 degrees C in a H(2)O bath. Chromatography was performed using a Zirchrom PBD column and a mobile phase of 30:70 acetonitrile/10 mM ammonium acetate and 0.1 mM citrate (pH=4.4) at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The lower limit of quantitation was 8.5 pg/ml for carfentanil and 0.21 ng/ml for naltrexone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert P Hunter
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University, 129 Coles Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-5802, USA.
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Palleschi L, Lucentini L, Ferretti E, Anastasi F, Amoroso M, Draisci G. Quantitative determination of sufentanil in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2003; 32:329-36. [PMID: 12763543 DOI: 10.1016/s0731-7085(03)00110-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A sensitive and specific method for the quantification of sufentanil in human plasma by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry has been developed. Fentanyl was used as the internal standard. Rapid sample preparation involved purification on a C(18) solid-phase extraction column. Chromatographic separation of the analytes was obtained using an RP-C(18) mu-HPLC column. LC-MS-MS detection was performed by atmospheric pressure ionisation (API) source equipped with an ionspray (IS) interface operating in the positive ion mode. For unambiguous substance confirmation, three analyte precursor-product ion combinations were monitored during multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) LC-MS-MS analysis. The method's performance characteristics were evaluated in blank and spiked control plasma samples. Overall accuracy (relative error, R.E., %), repeatability (relative standard deviations, R.S.D., %) and within-laboratory reproducibility (R.S.D., %) ranged from -9.28 to -2.71%, from 6.42 to 2.82% and from 13.52 to 6.06%, respectively, for sufentanil. The limit of quantification for sufentanil in human plasma samples was 0.3 ng ml(-1). Due to its high sensitivity and specificity, the method was successfully employed for sufentanil determination in maternal plasma samples collected immediately before epidural administration of a single sufentanil dose to women in labour, 20 min after drug administration, and at birth in arterial and venous umbilical cord plasma samples from the newborn babies. Research is in progress to adopt the method for performance of complete pharmacokinetic studies of sufentanil in human plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Palleschi
- Laboratorio di Medicina Veterinaria, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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