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Lin J, Yun K, Sun Q, Xiang P, Wu L, Yang S, Dun J, Fu S, Chen H. How to sample a seizure plant: the role of the visualization spatial distribution analysis of Lophophora williamsii as an example. Forensic Sci Res 2023; 8:140-151. [PMID: 37621449 PMCID: PMC10445667 DOI: 10.1093/fsr/owad014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural compounds in plants are often unevenly distributed, and determining the best sampling locations to obtain the most representative results is technically challenging. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) can provide the basis for formulating sampling guideline. For a succulent plant sample, ensuring the authenticity and in situ nature of the spatial distribution analysis results during MSI analysis also needs to be thoroughly considered. In this study, we developed a well-established and reliable MALDI-MSI method based on preservation methods, slice conditions, auxiliary matrices, and MALDI parameters to detect and visualize the spatial distribution of mescaline in situ in Lophophora williamsii. The MALDI-MSI results were validated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Low-temperature storage at -80°C and drying of "bookmarks" were the appropriate storage methods for succulent plant samples and their flower samples, and cutting into 40 μm thick sections at -20°C using gelatin as the embedding medium is the appropriate sectioning method. The use of DCTB (trans-2-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methyl-2-propenylidene]malononitrile) as an auxiliary matrix and a laser intensity of 45 are favourable MALDI parameter conditions for mescaline analysis. The region of interest semi-quantitative analysis revealed that mescaline is concentrated in the epidermal tissues of L. williamsii as well as in the meristematic tissues of the crown. The study findings not only help to provide a basis for determining the best sampling locations for mescaline in L. williamsii, but they also provide a reference for the optimization of storage and preparation conditions for raw plant organs before MALDI detection. Key Points An accurate in situ MSI method for fresh water-rich succulent plants was obtained based on multi-parameter comparative experiments.Spatial imaging analysis of mescaline in Lophophora williamsii was performed using the above method.Based on the above results and previous results, a sampling proposal for forensic medicine practice is tentatively proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaman Lin
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine in Shanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of Ministry of Public Security, Jinzhong, China
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Keming Yun
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine in Shanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of Ministry of Public Security, Jinzhong, China
| | - Qiran Sun
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Xiang
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Lina Wu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine in Shanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of Ministry of Public Security, Jinzhong, China
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Shanlin Fu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine in Shanxi Province, Key Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology of Ministry of Public Security, Jinzhong, China
| | - Hang Chen
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
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Zhai W, Qiao Z, Xiang P, Dang Y, Shi Y. A UPLC-MS/MS methodological approach for the analysis of 75 phenethylamines and their derivatives in hair. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2023; 229:115367. [PMID: 37018959 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
A rapid ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the targeted analysis of 75 phenethylamines and their derivatives from the hair matrix. The monitored classes of phenethylamines included the 2C series, D series, N-benzyl derivatives, mescaline-derived compounds, MDMA analogs, and benzodifurans. Approximately 20 mg of hair was weighed and pulverized with 0.1% formic acid in methanol by cryogenic grinding. After ultrasonication, centrifugation, and filtration, the supernatant was analyzed by LC-MS/MS operating in the scheduled multiple reaction monitoring mode. Phenethylamines and their derivatives were separated in 13 min on a biphenyl column (2.6 µm, 100 Å, 100 × 3.0 mm) using a gradient eluting mobile phase composed of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile. The developed and validated method showed good selectivity, sensitivity (LOD: 0.5-10 pg/mg and LOQ: 1-20 pg/mg), linearity (R2 > 0.997), accuracy and precision (< 20%), and stability. The method also showed good recovery and acceptable matrix effects for most of the targeted compounds. This analytical approach was successfully applied for the identification and quantification of phenethylamines in hair from authentic forensic cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenya Zhai
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China; College of Medicine and Forensics, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Zheng Qiao
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Xiang
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China
| | - Yonghui Dang
- College of Medicine and Forensics, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Science Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, China.
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Lin J, Yang S, Ji J, Xiang P, Wu L, Chen H. Natural or artificial: An example of topographic spatial distribution analysis of mescaline in cactus plants by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1066595. [PMID: 36844095 PMCID: PMC9950628 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1066595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Differentiating whether plant products are natural or artificial is of great importance in many practical fields, including forensic science, food safety, cosmetics, and fast-moving consumer goods. Information about the topographic distribution of compounds is an important criterion for answering this question. However, of equal importance is the likelihood that topographic spatial distribution information may provide important and valuable information for molecular mechanism study. METHODS In this study, we took mescaline, a substance with hallucinogenic properties in cacti of the species Trichocereus pachanoi and Lophophora williamsii, as an example to characterize the spatial distribution of mescaline in plants and flowers by liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometry-matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging at the macroscopic, tissue structure, and even cellular levels. RESULTS According to our results, the distribution of mescaline in natural plant was concentrated on the active meristems, epidermal tissues, and protruding parts of Trichocereus pachanoi and Lophophora williamsii, while artificially spiked Lophophora diffusa products showed no such difference in their topographic spatial distribution. DISCUSSION This difference in distribution pattern allowed us to distinguish between flowers that could synthesize mescaline on their own and those that had been artificially spiked with mescaline. The interesting topographic spatial distribution results, such as the overlap of the mescaline distribution map and micrographs of the vascular bundles, were consistent with the synthesis and transport theory of mescaline, indicating the potential for applying matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging in botanical research.
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Development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of mescaline and major metabolites in human plasma. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2022; 220:114980. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Yang S, Shi Y, Chen Z, Chen M, Liu X, Liu W, Su M, Di B. Detection of mescaline in human hair samples by UPLC-MS/MS: Application to 19 authentic forensic cases. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2022; 1195:123202. [PMID: 35248899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2022.123202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mescaline, a natural alkaloid found in the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) in the Americas, has gradually become a drug of abuse in China because of its psychedelic properties. Its intake may lead to hallucinations and confusion or even be life-threatening. Mescaline is classified as a class Ⅰ psychotropic drug in China, which means its use in medicine or scientific research is under strict control of the government. However, studies on surveillance of mescaline abuse in the Chinese population are lacking. A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination and quantification of mescaline in hair. The method had good linearity in the range from 10 to 1000 pg/mg, with the limit of detection (LOD) of 3 pg/mg and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 10 pg/mg. The total runtime was 5 min. Acceptable intraday and interday precision (RSD < 15%) and accuracy (bias, -11.2% ∼ 6.8%) were achieved. The recovery was 85.0-101.0%, and the matrix effect was 92.0-105.0%. The validated method was successfully applied to 19 real forensic cases. The concentrations of mescaline in hair ranged from 10 to 784 pg/mg. The method has the benefits of simple sample preparation, high sensitivity, and short running time, making it suitable for large-scale quantitative surveillance analysis of mescaline in forensic toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Yang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China; Academy of Forensic science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai 200063, PR China
| | - Yan Shi
- Academy of Forensic science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai 200063, PR China
| | - Zhuonan Chen
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China; Academy of Forensic science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai 200063, PR China
| | - Mobing Chen
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China; Academy of Forensic science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai 200063, PR China
| | - Xinze Liu
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China; Academy of Forensic science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai 200063, PR China
| | - Wei Liu
- Academy of Forensic science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai 200063, PR China.
| | - Mengxiang Su
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Bin Di
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China
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Longo CM, Musah RA. An Efficient Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometric Approach to Detection and Quantification of the Mescaline Content of Commonly Abused Cacti from the
Echinopsis
Genus. J Forensic Sci 2019; 65:61-66. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cameron M. Longo
- Department of Chemistry University at Albany State University of New York 1400 Washington Ave Albany NY 12222
| | - Rabi A. Musah
- Department of Chemistry University at Albany State University of New York 1400 Washington Ave Albany NY 12222
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Kubinec R, Kotora P, Ferenczy V, Blaško J, Podolec P, Hengerics Szabó A, Behúlová D, Bierhanzl V, Čabala R, Stuchlík S, Filipiak W, Thắng NM. Simultaneous analysis of carbohydrates, polyols and amines in urine samples using chemical ionization gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. J Sep Sci 2017; 41:449-458. [DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201700715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Róbert Kubinec
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences; Comenius University in Bratislava; Bratislava Slovakia
| | - Peter Kotora
- Institute of Process Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava; Bratislava Slovakia
| | - Viktória Ferenczy
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences; Comenius University in Bratislava; Bratislava Slovakia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; University Children´s Hospital; Bratislava Slovakia
| | - Jaroslav Blaško
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences; Comenius University in Bratislava; Bratislava Slovakia
| | | | - Alexandra Hengerics Szabó
- Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences; Comenius University in Bratislava; Bratislava Slovakia
| | - Darina Behúlová
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; University Children´s Hospital; Bratislava Slovakia
| | - Václav Bierhanzl
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences; Charles University in Prague; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Radomír Čabala
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences; Charles University in Prague; Prague Czech Republic
- Institute of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology; General University Hospital in Prague; Prague Czech Republic
| | - Stanislav Stuchlík
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences; Comenius University in Bratislava; Bratislava Slovakia
| | - Wojciech Filipiak
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy; Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun; Bydgoszcz Poland
| | - Ngô Mạnh Thắng
- Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, HCMC; University of Technology; HCM City Vietnam
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Challenges in Laboratory Detection of Unusual Substance Abuse: Issues with Magic Mushroom, Peyote Cactus, Khat, and Solvent Abuse. Adv Clin Chem 2017; 78:163-186. [PMID: 28057187 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acc.2016.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Drug abuse is a worldwide problem. Although commonly abused drugs can be identified during routine urine drug testing, less commonly abused drugs may escape detection. These less commonly abused drugs not only include some designer drugs such as synthetic cannabinoid but also include abuse of psychedelic magic mushroom (active ingredients: psilocybin and psilocin), peyote cactus (active ingredient: mescaline), and khat plants (active ingredient: cathinone). Moreover, solvent and glue abuse is gaining popularity among teenagers and young adults which may even cause fatality. Amphetamine/methamphetamine immunoassay has a low cross-reactivity with psilocin. Cathinone, if present in the urine, can be detected by amphetamine/methamphetamine immunoassay due to cross-reactivity of cathinone with assay antibody. Currently there is one commercially available immunoassay which is capable of detecting synthetic cathinone known as bath salts as well as mescaline. However, gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry as well as liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS)-based method is available for confirmation of the active ingredients present in magic mushroom, peyote cactus, and khat plant. Such chromatography-based methods also offer more sensitivity and specificity compared to an immunoassay.
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Luan H, Yang L, Ji F, Cai Z. PCI-GC-MS-MS approach for identification of non-amino organic acid and amino acid profiles. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2016; 1047:180-184. [PMID: 27381571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Alkyl chloroformate have been wildly used for the fast derivatization of metabolites with amino and/or carboxyl groups, coupling of powerful separation and detection systems, such as GC-MS, which allows the comprehensive analysis of non-amino organic acids and amino acids. The reagents involving n-alkyl chloroformate and n-alcohol are generally employed for providing symmetric labeling terminal alkyl chain with the same length. Here, we developed an asymmetric labeling strategy and positive chemical ionization gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (PCI-GC-MS-MS) approach for determination of non-amino organic acids and amino acids, as well as the short chain fatty acids. Carboxylic and amino groups could be selectively labelled by propyl and ethyl groups, respectively. The specific neutral loss of C3H8O (60Da), C3H5O2 (74Da) and C4H8O2 (88Da) were useful in the selective identification for qualitative analysis of organic acids and amino acid derivatives. PCI-GC-MS-MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was applied for semi-quantification of typical non-amino organic acids and amino acids. This method exhibited a wide range of linear range, good regression coefficient (R2) and repeatability. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of targeted metabolites showed excellent intra- and inter-day precision (<5%). Our method provided a qualitative and semi-quantitative PCI-GC-MS-MS, coupled with alkyl chloroformate derivatization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemi Luan
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Fenfen Ji
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zongwei Cai
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
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Pichini S, Marchei E, García-Algar O, Gomez A, Di Giovannandrea R, Pacifici R. Ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry determination of hallucinogenic drugs in hair of psychedelic plants and mushrooms consumers. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2014; 100:284-289. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2014.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Gambelunghe C, Bacci M, Aroni K, De Falco F, Ayroldi EM. Cocaine Addiction Treatment and Home Remedies: Use of the Scopolamine Transdermal Patch. Subst Use Misuse 2014; 49:1-6. [PMID: 23924240 DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2013.824477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Recently, there has been an enormous increase in the number of people seeking treatment for cocaine addiction. Fifteen male cocaine users aged 20-30 years who requested hair analysis from our forensic toxicology laboratory (Perugia, Italy) from March to June 2012, reported using scopolamine without medical supervision to reduce the anxiety associated with cocaine withdrawal. Self-reports were verified with the results obtained from the hair analysis. We discuss whether the use of scopolamine in cocaine abusers could be supported by a neurobiological and pharmacological point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Gambelunghe
- a 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Legal and Sports Medicine, University of Perugia , Perugia, Italy
| | - Mauro Bacci
- a 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Legal and Sports Medicine, University of Perugia , Perugia, Italy
| | - Kyriaki Aroni
- a 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Legal and Sports Medicine, University of Perugia , Perugia, Italy
| | - Filomena De Falco
- a 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Legal and Sports Medicine, University of Perugia , Perugia, Italy
| | - Emira Maria Ayroldi
- b 2Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Division of Pharmacology, University of Perugia , Perugia, Italy
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Role of LC-MS/MS in hair testing for the determination of common drugs of abuse and other psychoactive drugs. Bioanalysis 2013; 5:1919-38. [PMID: 23905865 DOI: 10.4155/bio.13.132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hair testing has been used in toxicological investigations for the last two decades, but only recently a remarkable extension of hair analysis to a variety of application fields was observed, besides drug abuse recognition. The dramatic improvements of LC-MS/MS instrumentation make the detection of tiny amounts of almost whatever drug in hair possible, even after single-dose intake. The progresses observed during the last 5 years in the detection of psychoactive substances in hair are reviewed herein. The literature is partitioned according to the target compounds, namely traditional drugs of abuse, new psychoactive substances and pharmaceutical psychoactive substances. The LC-MS/MS methods presented are addressed to determine a single class of drugs, with the primary aim of accurate quantitation, or to perform multiclass analysis, for rapid and effective screening protocols.
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