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Matsuo T, Ogawa T, Iwai M, Kubo K, Kondo F, Seno H. Development of an LC-MS/MS method for the determination of five psychoactive drugs in postmortem urine by optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronide conjugates. Forensic Toxicol 2024:10.1007/s11419-024-00685-1. [PMID: 38557936 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-024-00685-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Toxicological analyses of biological samples play important roles in forensic and clinical investigations. Ingested drugs are excreted in urine as conjugates with endogenous substances such as glucuronic acid; hydrolyzing these conjugates improves the determination of target drugs by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In this study, we sought to improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronide conjugates of five psychoactive drugs (11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, oxazepam, lorazepam, temazepam, and amitriptyline). METHODS The efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronide conjugates in urine was optimized by varying temperature, enzyme volume, and reaction time. The hydrolysis was performed directly on extraction columns. This analysis method using LC-MS/MS was applied to forensic autopsy samples after thorough validation. RESULTS We found that the recombinant β-glucuronidase B-One® quantitatively hydrolyzed these conjugates within 3 min at room temperature directly on extraction columns. This on-column method saved time and eliminated the loss of valuable samples during transfer to the extraction column. LC-MS/MS-based calibration curves processed with this method showed good linearity, with r2 values exceeding 0.998. The intra- and inter-day accuracies and precisions of the method were 93.0-109.7% and 0.8-8.8%, respectively. The recovery efficiencies were in the range of 56.1-104.5%. Matrix effects were between 78.9 and 126.9%. CONCLUSIONS We have established an LC-MS/MS method for five psychoactive drugs in urine after enzymatic hydrolysis of glucuronide conjugates directly on extraction columns. The method was successfully applied to forensic autopsy samples. The established method will have broad applications, including forensic and clinical toxicological investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohito Matsuo
- Department of Legal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan.
- Poison Analysis Center, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan.
| | - Tadashi Ogawa
- Department of Legal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
- Poison Analysis Center, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
| | - Masae Iwai
- Department of Legal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
- Poison Analysis Center, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
| | - Katsutoshi Kubo
- Department of Legal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
- Department of Oral Pathology/Forensic Odontology, Aichi Gakuin University School of Dentistry, 1-100 Kusumoto-Cho, Chikusa-Ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 464-8650, Japan
| | - Fumio Kondo
- Department of Legal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chubu University College of Life and Health Sciences, 1200 Matsumoto‑cho, Kasugai, Aichi, 487‑8501, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Seno
- Department of Legal Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
- Poison Analysis Center, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan
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Jain B, Jain R, Kabir A, Zughaibi T, Bajaj A, Sharma S. Exploiting the potential of fabric phase sorptive extraction for forensic food safety: Analysis of food samples in cases of drug facilitated crimes. Food Chem 2024; 432:137191. [PMID: 37643513 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Drug-facilitated crimes (DFCs) entail the use of a single drug or a mixture of drugs to render a victim unable. Traditionally, biological samples have been gathered from victims and conducting analysis to establish evidence of drug administration. Nevertheless, the rapid metabolism of various drugs and delays in analysis can impede the identification of such substances. For this, the present article describes a rapid, sustainable, highly efficient and miniaturized protocol for the identification and quantification of three sedative-hypnotic drugs namely diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and ketamine in alcoholic beverages and complex food samples (cream of biscuit, flavoured milk, juice, cake, tea, sweets and chocolate). The methodology involves utilizing fabric phase sorptive extraction (FPSE) to extract diazepam (DZ), chlordiazepoxide (CDP), and ketamine (KET), Subsequently, the extracted sample are subjected to analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Several parameters, including type of membrane, pH, agitation time and speed, ionic strength, sample volume, elution volume and time, and type of elution solvent, were screened and thoroughly optimized. Sol-gel Carbowax 20M (CW-20M) has demonstrated most effective extraction efficiency for the target analytes among all evaluated membranes. Under optimal conditions, the method displayed linearity within the range of 0.3-10 µg mL-1 (or µg g-1), exhibiting a coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.996 to 0.999. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) for liquid samples ranging between 0.020 and 0.069 µg mL-1 and 0.066-0.22 µg mL-1, respectively. Correspondingly, the LODs for solid samples ranged from 0.056 to 0.090 µg g-1, while the LOQs ranged from 0.18 to 0.29 µg g-1. Notably, the method showcased better precision, with repeatability and reproducibility both below 5% and 10%, respectively. Furthermore, the FPSE-GC-MS method proved effective in determining diazepam (DZ) in forensic food samples connected to drug-facilitated crimes (DFCs). Additionally, the proposed method underwent evaluation for its whiteness using the RGB12 algorithm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bharti Jain
- Institute of Forensic Science & Criminology, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India; Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Directorate of Forensic Science Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, Dakshin Marg, Sector - 36A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Rajeev Jain
- Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Directorate of Forensic Science Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, Dakshin Marg, Sector - 36A, Chandigarh 160036, India.
| | - Abuzar Kabir
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Torki Zughaibi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Atul Bajaj
- Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Directorate of Forensic Science Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India, Dakshin Marg, Sector - 36A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Shweta Sharma
- Institute of Forensic Science & Criminology, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
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Garima, Parkash V, Mehta SK, Sharma S. Selective Response Studies of Graphene Materials with Forensic Relevant Drugs Through Fluorescence Spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1061934822040062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Vincenti F, Montesano C, Babino P, Carboni S, Napoletano S, De Sangro G, Di Rosa F, Gregori A, Curini R, Sergi M. Finding evidence at a crime scene: Sensitive determination of benzodiazepine residues in drink and food paraphernalia by HPLC-HRMS/MS. Forensic Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2021.100327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Degreef M, Vits L, Berry EM, Maudens KEK, van Nuijs ALN. Quantification of 54 Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs, Including 20 Designer Ones, in Plasma. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 45:141-153. [PMID: 32507898 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Benzodiazepines are widely used in the treatment of sleep and anxiety disorders, as well as epileptic seizures and alcohol withdrawal because of their broad therapeutic index and low cost. Due to their central nervous system depressant effects they are also often implicated in traffic accidents and drug-related intoxications. With an increasing number of designer benzodiazepines used in a recreational setting, there is a need for analytical methods to be able to quantify both the prescribed and designer benzodiazepines. A liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method was developed for the quantification of 34 prescribed and 20 designer benzodiazepines in plasma. Different sample preparation strategies, including protein precipitation, liquid-liquid extraction, solid-phase extraction and mini-QuEChERS, were tested. The best recoveries for all compounds of interest were obtained with a liquid-liquid extraction using methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether and 500 μL plasma. The method was fully validated according to the European Medicines Agency guidelines for all compounds, except pivoxazepam, which is included for qualitative purposes only. In-sample stability issues were observed for cloxazolam, both at ambient temperature and during long-term storage at -20°C. Due to the large number of compounds included, the simple and time-efficient sample preparation and the relatively inexpensive instrumentation used, the presented method can be readily implemented in both therapeutic drug monitoring and forensic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten Degreef
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Lore Vits
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Eleanor M Berry
- Toxicological Centre, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
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Caballero-Casero N, Mihretu LD, Rubio S. Interference Free Method for Determination of Benzodiazepines in Urine Based on Restricted Access Supramolecular Solvents and LC-MS/MS. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 46:285-294. [PMID: 33674823 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkab023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Supramolecular solvents with restricted access properties (SUPRAS-RAM) are proposed as a new approach for integrating extraction and sample cleanup in the quantification of benzodiazepines in urine by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The SUPRAS-RAM was synthesized in situ in the urine by the addition of 1- hexanol (154 µL) and THF (600 µL). Benzodiazepines extraction was driven by both hydrogen bonds and dispersion interactions. Removal of proteins and polar macromolecules was performed by the action of the SUPRAS through chemical and physical mechanisms. Phospholipids were removed by precipitation during SUPRAS extract evaporation. A multivariate method was used for the optimization of the extraction process by applying Box-Behnken response surface design. The proposed method was validated according to the guiding principles of the European Commission Decision (2002/657/EC). Method detection and quantification limits for the target benzodiazepines were in the intervals 0.21-0.85 ng/mL and 0.67-2.79 ng/mL, respectively. The repeatability and reproducibility (expressed as relative standard deviations) were in the range 2-6 % and 3-8%, respectively. The method enabled the simultaneous extraction of benzodiazepines (recoveries in the range 84-105%) and the removal of matrix effects. The method was applied to the analysis of 13 urine samples using external calibration. Five out of 13 samples tested positive in alprazolam and lorazepam at concentrations in the range 5.4-74 ng/mL. The method allows simple and quick sample treatment with minimal solvent consumption while delivering accurate and precise data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Caballero-Casero
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemistry and Nanochemistry, Universidad de Córdoba. Marie Curie-Annex Building, Campus de Rabanales, 14071-Córdoba. Spain
| | - Libargachew D Mihretu
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemistry and Nanochemistry, Universidad de Córdoba. Marie Curie-Annex Building, Campus de Rabanales, 14071-Córdoba. Spain
| | - Soledad Rubio
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Fine Chemistry and Nanochemistry, Universidad de Córdoba. Marie Curie-Annex Building, Campus de Rabanales, 14071-Córdoba. Spain
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Sha X, Han SQGW, Zhao H, Li N, Zhang C, Hasi WLJ. A Rapid Detection Method for On-site Screening of Estazolam in Beverages with Au@Ag Core-shell Nanoparticles Paper-based SERS Substrate. ANAL SCI 2020; 36:667-671. [PMID: 31787667 DOI: 10.2116/analsci.19p361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Estazolam (EST) is a common sedative-hypnotic drug with a risk of abuse. Therefore, rapid on-site detection of EST is necessary to control the abuse of EST. In this paper, a fast, simple, and sensitive method is demonstrated for the detection of EST in both water and beverages, using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) techniques. Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) assembled on the filter paper as a SERS substrate exhibit good applicability and practicality. At the same time, density functional theory (DFT) is used to assign the vibration mode of the EST molecules, which can be used as a guide for subsequent experiments. The lowest detectable concentration of EST in aqueous solution can be as low as 5 mg/L, and signal uniformity is excellent (RSD687 = 5.56%, RSD1000 = 4.35%). In addition, EST components artificially added to orange juice and pomegranate juice can be effectively detected by simple pretreatment with a minimum detection concentration as low as 10 mg/L. Therefore, this study found that the use of Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles paper-based SERS substrate provides a quick and easy method for the detection of illegally added drugs in beverages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuanyu Sha
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Tunable Laser, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150080, China
| | - Si-Qin-Gao-Wa Han
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Tunable Laser, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150080, China.
- Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia University for the Nationalities, Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, 028007, China.
| | - Hang Zhao
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Tunable Laser, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150080, China
| | - Nan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Tunable Laser, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150080, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Tunable Laser, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150080, China
| | - Wu-Li-Ji Hasi
- National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Tunable Laser, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150080, China.
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Awolade P, Cele N, Kerru N, Gummidi L, Oluwakemi E, Singh P. Therapeutic significance of β-glucuronidase activity and its inhibitors: A review. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 187:111921. [PMID: 31835168 PMCID: PMC7111419 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.111921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of disease and dearth of effective pharmacological agents on most therapeutic fronts, constitutes a major threat to global public health and man's existence. Consequently, this has created an exigency in the search for new drugs with improved clinical utility or means of potentiating available ones. To this end, accumulating empirical evidence supports molecular target therapy as a plausible egress and, β-glucuronidase (βGLU) - a lysosomal acid hydrolase responsible for the catalytic deconjugation of β-d-glucuronides has emerged as a viable molecular target for several therapeutic applications. The enzyme's activity level in body fluids is also deemed a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of some pathological conditions. Moreover, due to its role in colon carcinogenesis and certain drug-induced dose-limiting toxicities, the development of potent inhibitors of βGLU in human intestinal microbiota has aroused increased attention over the years. Nevertheless, although our literature survey revealed both natural products and synthetic scaffolds as potential inhibitors of the enzyme, only few of these have found clinical utility, albeit with moderate to poor pharmacokinetic profile. Hence, in this review we present a compendium of exploits in the present millennium directed towards the inhibition of βGLU. The aim is to proffer a platform on which new scaffolds can be modelled for improved βGLU inhibitory potency and the development of new therapeutic agents in consequential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Awolade
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa
| | - Nosipho Cele
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa
| | - Nagaraju Kerru
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa
| | - Lalitha Gummidi
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa
| | - Ebenezer Oluwakemi
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa
| | - Parvesh Singh
- School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X54001, Westville, Durban, South Africa.
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