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Macrino CDJ, Dos Santos NA, Conceição NDS, Baptista CSD, Neto AC, Romão W. Isolation and characterization of reference standard candidates for cocaine and benzoylecgonine obtained from illicit substances seized. J Forensic Sci 2024; 69:1025-1034. [PMID: 38520078 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
The area of forensic chemistry has been growing and developing as a line of research due to the high demands of public safety that require increasingly reliable results due to their importance in criminalistics. In this way, the development of new technologies that help this area, whether in the identification and quantification of drugs or the fight against fraud, becomes promising. In this context, the present work explored the production of reference standards from the purification of cocaine/crack samples seized by the Civil Police of the State of Espírito Santo. Cocaine was purified using chromatographic techniques, and benzoylecgonine was synthesized from purified cocaine. All substances were characterized by ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Homogeneity and stability studies were also performed with benzoylecgonine, and the results were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Cocaine and benzoylecgonine showed purities of 98.37% and 96.34%, respectively. The homogeneity of the batch, short-term stability, and other parameters were also evaluated, which together indicate this proposal as promising in the development of reference standards for drugs of abuse from samples seized by the Brazilian forensic police.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clebson de Jesus Macrino
- Laboratório de Petroleômica e Química Forense, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Nayara A Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Petroleômica e Química Forense, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Forense (INCT Forense), Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Nathália Dos S Conceição
- Laboratório de Petroleômica e Química Forense, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Forense (INCT Forense), Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Clara S D Baptista
- Laboratório de Petroleômica e Química Forense, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Alvaro Cunha Neto
- Laboratório de Petroleômica e Química Forense, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Wanderson Romão
- Laboratório de Petroleômica e Química Forense, Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia Forense (INCT Forense), Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
- Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil
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Dulf EH, Festila C. Sensors for Cryogenic Isotope-Separation Column. SENSORS 2020; 20:s20143890. [PMID: 32668627 PMCID: PMC7411749 DOI: 10.3390/s20143890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cryogenic isotope-separation equipment is special, encountered in relative few research centers in the world. In addition to the main equipment used in the operation column, a broad range of measuring devices and actuators are involved in the technological process. The proper sensors and transducers exhibit special features; therefore, common, industrial versions cannot be used. Three types of original sensors with electronic adapters are presented in the present study: a sensor for the liquid carbon monoxide level in the boiler, a sensor for the liquid nitrogen level in the condenser and a sensor for the electrical power dissipated in the boiler. The integration of these sensors in the pilot equipment is needed for comprehensive system monitoring and control. The sensors were tested on the experimental equipment from the National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies from Cluj-Napoca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva H. Dulf
- Department of Automation, Faculty of Automation and Computer Science, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Memorandumului Str. 28, 400014 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Physiological Controls Research Center, Óbuda University, H-1034 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence:
| | - Clement Festila
- Department of Automation, Faculty of Automation and Computer Science, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Memorandumului Str. 28, 400014 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
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Mella-Raipán J, Romero-Parra J, Recabarren-Gajardo G. DARK Classics in Chemical Neuroscience: Heroin and Desomorphine. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:3905-3927. [PMID: 32568519 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioids are arguably one of the most important pharmacologic classes, mainly due to their rich history, their useful and potent analgesic effects, and also, just as importantly, their "Dark Side", constituted by their reinforcing properties that have led countless of users to a spiral of addiction, biological dependence, tolerance, withdrawal syndromes, and death. Among the most significant abused and addictive known opioids are heroin and desomorphine, both synthetic derivatives of morphine that belong to the 4,5-epoxymorphinan structural chemical group of the opioid family drugs. These agents share not only structural, pharmacological, and epidemiological features but also a common geographical distribution. A drop in Afghan heroin production and its "exports" to Russia gave rise to widespread consumption of desomorphine in ex-Soviet republics during the first decade of the 21st century, representing an economical and accessible alternative for misusers to this sort of derivative. Herein we review the state of the art of history, chemistry and synthesis, pharmacology, and impact on society of these "cursed cousins".
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Mella-Raipán
- Instituto de Quı́mica y Bioquı́mica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaı́so, Av. Gran Bretaña 1111, Valparaı́so 2360102, Chile
- Facultad de Farmacia, Centro de Investigación Farmacopea Chilena, Universidad de Valparaı́so,, Av. Gran Bretaña 1093, Valparaı́so 2360102, Chile
| | - Javier Romero-Parra
- Departamento de Quı́mica Orgánica y Fisicoquı́mica, Facultad de Ciencias Quı́micas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad de Chile, Sergio Livingstone 1007, Casilla
233, 8380492 Santiago, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Recabarren-Gajardo
- Bioactive Heterocycles Synthesis Laboratory, BHSL, Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Quı́mica y de Farmacia, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 306, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, 7820436 Santiago, Chile
- Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile,, Marcoleta 391, 8330024 Santiago, Chile
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Wolf CE, Pierce KL, Goldfine BL, Nanco CR, Poklis JL, Korzun WJ. Using Papaverine and Its Metabolites, 6-Desmethyl Papaverine and 4',6-Didesmethyl Papaverine as Biomarkers to Improve the Detection Time of Heroin Use. J Anal Toxicol 2019; 43:600-606. [PMID: 31436291 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkz069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2019] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid usage in the USA has increased over the past decade, with prescriptions increasing from 76 million in 1991 to 207 million in 2013. New regulations have curbed the number of prescriptions, leading to an increase in heroin use. Heroin-related overdoses have quadrupled between 2000 and 2015. The traditional urinary biomarkers for indicating heroin use are a combination of morphine and 6-acetyl morphine (6-AM). Morphine is detectable in urine for several days. 6-AM is detected in urine for 2-8 hours. Papaverine has been proposed as an alternative heroin biomarker. It has been reported to have a 1-2 day detection window. Papaverine metabolites have been reported to have up to a 3-day detection window. Presented is a method for the detection of papaverine and its metabolites, 6-desmethyl papaverine (6-DMP) and 4', 6-didesmethyl papaverine (4,6-DDMP), in urine using a modified Waters® MCX™ microelution method. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS-MS), with a Waters' BEH C18 column, and 20 mM ammonium formate water: 20 mM ammonium formate methanol mobile phase was employed. Calibration curves were linear from 0.1 to 50 ng/mL. No interferences were observed from the analysis of multicomponent therapeutic drug or drugs of abuse control materials; intra- and inter-run precision tests were acceptable. A total of 428 genuine urine specimens where heroin use was suspected were analyzed. These included 101 6-AM and 179 morphine only positive samples as well as 6 morphine-negative samples where papaverine and/or metabolites were detected. The determined concentrations in these samples for papaverine, 6-DMP and 4,6-DDMP ranged from 0.10 to 994, 0.10 to 462 and 0.12 to 218 ng/mL, respectively. The method was rugged and robust for the analysis of papaverine and metabolites, 6-DMP and 4,6-DDMP. The use papaverine and metabolites, 6-DMP and 4,6-DDMP has the potential to increase the detection window of heroin use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Justin L Poklis
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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Afewerki S, Wang JX, Liao WW, Córdova A. The Chemical Synthesis and Applications of Tropane Alkaloids. THE ALKALOIDS. CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY 2018; 81:151-233. [PMID: 30685050 DOI: 10.1016/bs.alkal.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tropanes are an important class of alkaloid natural products that are found in plants all over the world. These compounds can exhibit significant biological activity and are among the oldest known medicines. In the early 19th century, tropanes were isolated, characterized, and synthesized by notable chemical researchers. Their significant biological activities have inspired tremendous research efforts toward their synthesis and the elucidation of their pharmacological activity both in academia and in industry. In this chapter, which addresses the developments in this field since 1994, the focus is on the synthesis of these compounds, and several examples of sophisticated synthetic protocols involving both asymmetric and catalytic approaches are described. In addition, the structures of more than 100 new alkaloids are included as well as the applications and pharmacological properties of some tropane alkaloids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samson Afewerki
- Department of Natural Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden; Berzelii Center EXSELENT, The Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jia-Xin Wang
- Department of Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wei-Wei Liao
- Department of Organic Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Armando Córdova
- Department of Natural Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden; Berzelii Center EXSELENT, The Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
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