Can X-Ray Powder Diffraction Be a Suitable Forensic Method for Illicit Drug Identification?

Beta-Hydroxybutyric Acid as a Template for the X-ray Powder Diffraction Analysis of Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid

In this paper, we report the possibility of using the X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) technique to detect gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in the form of its sodium salt in different beverages, but because it is not possible to freely buy GHB, beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) and its sodium salt (NaBHB) were used as a model to fine-tune an X-ray diffraction method for the qualitative analysis of the sodium salt of GHB. The method requires only a small quantity of beverage and an easy sample preparation that consists only of the addition of NaOH to the drink and a subsequent drying step. The dry residue obtained can be easily analyzed with XRPD using a single-crystal X-ray diffractometer, which exploits its high sensitivity and allows for very fast pattern collection. Several beverages with different NaBHB:NaOH molar ratios were tested, and the results showed that NaBHB was detected in all drinks analyzed when the NaBHB:NaOH molar ratio was 1:50, using a characteristic peak at very low 2θ values, which also permitted the detection of its presence in complex beverage matrices. Moreover, depending on the amount of NaOH added, shifting and/or splitting of the characteristic NaBHB salt peak was observed, and the origin of this behavior was investigated.

Application of TGA/c-DTA for Distinguishing between Two Forms of Naproxen in Pharmaceutical Preparations

Naproxen is one of the most used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is used to treat pain of various origins, inflammation and fever. Pharmaceutical preparations containing naproxen are available with prescription and over-the-counter (OTC). Naproxen in pharmaceutical preparations is used in the form of acid and sodium salt. From the point of view of pharmaceutical analysis, it is crucial to distinguish between these two forms of drugs. There are many costly and laborious methods to do this. Therefore, new, faster, cheaper and, at the same time, simple-to-perform identification methods are sought. In the conducted studies, thermal methods such as thermogravimetry (TGA) supported by calculated differential thermal analysis (c-DTA) were proposed to identify the type of naproxen in commercially available pharmaceutical preparations. In addition, the thermal methods used were compared with pharmacopoeial methods for the identification of compounds, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectrophotometry, and a simple colorimetric analyses. In addition, using nabumetone, a close structural analog of naproxen, the specificity of the TGA and c-DTA methods was assessed. Studies have shown that the thermal analyses used are effective and selective in distinguishing the form of naproxen in pharmaceutical preparations. This indicates the potential possibility of using TGA supported by c-DTA as an alternative method.

Intriguing Cytotoxicity of the Street Dissociative Anesthetic Methoxphenidine: Unexpected Impurities Spotted

The black market for new psychoactive substances has been constantly evolving and the substances that appear on this market cause a considerable number of issues, in extreme cases leading to human deaths. While monitoring the drug black market, we detected a sample of a dissociative anesthetic methoxphenidine, the salt of which contained an unusual anion in the form of bromo- and chloro-zincate complex. Concerning the unknown and potentially hazardous properties of this sample, we performed an in vitro cytotoxicity screening in cell lines of various origins (e.g., kidney, liver, bladder) which was compared with the toxicity results of the methoxphenidine standard prepared for this purpose. The street methoxphenidine sample exhibited markedly higher toxicity than the standard, which was probably caused by the anion impurity. Since it is not usual to analyze anions in salts of novel psychoactive substances, but such samples may be commonly available at the drug black market, we have developed a method for their identification with X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), which also enabled us to distinguish between different polymorphs/solvates of methoxphenidine that were crystallized in the laboratory. XRPD offers additional data about samples, which may not be discovered by routine techniques, and in some cases, they may help to find out essential information.

Recent Advances of Chitosan-Based Injectable Hydrogels for Bone and Dental Tissue Regeneration

Traditional strategies of bone repair include autografts, allografts and surgical reconstructions, but they may bring about potential hazard of donor site morbidity, rejection, risk of disease transmission and repetitive surgery. Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is a multidisciplinary field that offers promising substitutes in biopharmaceutical applications, and chitosan (CS)-based bone reconstructions can be a potential candidate in regenerative tissue fields owing to its low immunogenicity, biodegradability, bioresorbable features, low-cost and economic nature. Formulations of CS-based injectable hydrogels with thermo/pH-response are advantageous in terms of their high-water imbibing capability, minimal invasiveness, porous networks, and ability to mold perfectly into an irregular defect. Additionally, CS combined with other naturally-derived or synthetic polymers and bioactive agents has proven to be an effective alternative to autologous bone and dental grafts. In this review, we will highlight the current progress in the development of preparation methods, physicochemical properties and applications of CS-based injectable hydrogels and their perspectives in bone and dental regeneration. We believe this review is intended as starting point and inspiration for future research effort to develop the next generation of tissue-engineering scaffold materials.