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Manca A, Chiara F, Mula J, Palermiti A, Maiese D, Zeaiter S, De Nicolò A, Imperiale D, De Filippis G, Vischia F, De Cori D, Cusato J, D’Avolio A. A new UHPLC-MS/MS method for cannabinoids determination in human plasma: A clinical tool for therapeutic drug monitoring. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 156:113899. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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La Maida N, Di Giorgi A, Pichini S, Busardò FP, Huestis MA. Recent challenges and trends in forensic analysis: Δ9-THC isomers pharmacology, toxicology and analysis. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2022; 220:114987. [PMID: 35985136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2022.114987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) isomers, especially Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), are increasing in foods, beverages, and e-cigarettes liquids. A major factor is passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act (AIA) that removed hemp containing less than 0.3 % Δ9-THC from the definition of "marijuana" or cannabis. CBD-rich hemp flooded the market resulting in excess product that could be subjected to CBD cyclization to produce Δ8-THC. This process utilizes strong acid and yields toxic byproducts that frequently are not removed prior to sale and are currently inadequately studied. Pharmacological activity is qualitatively similar for Δ8-THC and Δ9-THC, but most preclinical studies in mice, rats, and monkeys documented greater ∆9-THC potency. Both isomers caused graded dose-response effects on euphoria, blurred vision, mental confusion and lethargy, although Δ8-THC was at least 25 % less potent. The most common analytical methodologies providing baseline resolution of ∆8-THC and ∆9-THC in non-biological matrices are liquid-chromatography coupled to diode-array detection (LC-DAD or LC-PDA), while liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry is preferred for biological matrices. Other available analytical methods are gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (QNMR). Current knowledge on the pharmacology of ∆8-THC and other ∆9-THC isomers are reviewed to raise awareness of the activity of these isomers in cannabis products, as well as analytical methods to discriminate ∆9-THC qualitatively, and quantitatively and ∆8-THC in biological and non-biological matrices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nunzia La Maida
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic, and Orthopedic Sciences, Università la Sapienza, V. Le Regina Elena 366, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Giorgi
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Science and Public Health, University "Politecnica delle Marche" of Ancona, Via Tronto 10/a, 60124, Ancona, Italy
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, V. Le Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Science and Public Health, University "Politecnica delle Marche" of Ancona, Via Tronto 10/a, 60124, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Marilyn A Huestis
- Institute of Emerging Health Professions, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction of 11-nor-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-carboxylic acid applied to urine testing. Bioanalysis 2021; 14:87-100. [PMID: 34860122 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2021-0237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: THC-COOH is the major metabolite of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol commonly tested in urine to determine cannabis intake. In this study, a method based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was developed for testing THC-COOH in urine. Materials & methods: Hydrolyzed urine specimens were extracted via dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction with acetonitrile (disperser solvent) and chloroform (extraction solvent). Derivatization was performed with N,O-Bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 1% trichloro(chloromethyl)silane. Analysis was performed by GC-MS/MS. Results: The method showed acceptable linearity (5-500 ng/ml), imprecision (<10.5%) and bias (<4.9%). Limits of detection and quantitation were 1 and 5 ng/ml, respectively. Twenty-four authentic samples were analyzed, with 22 samples being positive for THC-COOH. Conclusion: The proposed method is more environmentally friendly and provided good sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility.
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Rzeppa S, Große J, Rautenberg C, Thieme D, Lepp T, Vallimäe H, Keiler AM. Emergence of the less common cannabinoid Δ 8 -Tetrahydrocannabinol in a doping sample. Drug Test Anal 2021; 13:1936-1943. [PMID: 34494719 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Δ8 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8 -THC) as isomer of the well-known Δ9 -THC has a similar mode of action, and the potency was estimated to be two thirds compared with Δ9 -THC. Content of Δ8 -THC in plant material is low, but formulations containing Δ8 -THC in high concentrations are gaining popularity. Δ8 -THC is to be regarded as prohibited substance according to the Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Contradictory results between initial testing procedure and confirmatory quantitation for 11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9 -THC-COOH) of a doping control sample gave rise for follow-up testing procedures. After alkaline hydrolysis and liquid-liquid extraction, the sample was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) using isocratic elution instead of gradient elution, which is used for standard procedure. Isocratic elution resulted in two peaks instead of one using gradient elution. Both peaks showed same fragmentation. Using certified reference materials, one peak could be assigned to Δ9 -THC-COOH and the other one with higher intensity to the less common 11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ8 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8 -THC-COOH) in a concentration of approximately 1200 ng/ml. As complementary method, gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) can also be used for identification. Here Δ8 - and Δ9 -THC-COOH can be distinguished by chromatography and by fragmentation. Additional investigations of doping control samples containing Δ9 -THC-COOH revealed the simultaneous presence of Δ8 -THC-COOH in low concentrations (0.22-8.91 ng/ml) presumably due to plant origin. Percentage of Δ8 -THC-COOH varies from 0.05 to 2.83%. In vitro experiments using human liver microsomes showed that Δ8 -THC is metabolized in the same way as Δ9 -THC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Rzeppa
- Institute of Doping Analysis and Sport Biochemistry, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Joachim Große
- Institute of Doping Analysis and Sport Biochemistry, Kreischa, Germany
| | | | - Detlef Thieme
- Institute of Doping Analysis and Sport Biochemistry, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Triin Lepp
- Estonian Center for Integrity in Sports, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Henn Vallimäe
- Estonian Center for Integrity in Sports, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Annekathrin M Keiler
- Institute of Doping Analysis and Sport Biochemistry, Kreischa, Germany.,Environmental Monitoring and Endocrinology, Faculty of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Lin L, Amaratunga P, Reed J, Huang P, Lemberg BL, Lemberg D. Quantitation of Δ8-THC, Δ9-THC, Cannabidiol, and Ten Other Cannabinoids and Metabolites in Oral Fluid by HPLC-MS/MS. J Anal Toxicol 2020; 46:76-88. [PMID: 33270860 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitative analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in oral fluid has gained increasing interest in clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories. New medicinal and/or recreational cannabinoid products require laboratories to distinguish different patterns of cannabinoid use. This study validated a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method for 13 different cannabinoids, including (-)-trans-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), (-)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (Δ9-THCA-A), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-Δ9-THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THCCOOH), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabidiorcol (CBD-C1), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG) in oral fluid. Baseline separation was achieved in the entire quantitation range between Δ9-THC and its isomer Δ8-THC. The quantitation range of Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC, and CBD was from 0.1 ng/mL to 800 ng/mL. Two hundred human subject oral fluid samples were analyzed with this method after solid phase extraction (SPE). Among the 200 human subject oral fluid samples, all 13 cannabinoid analytes were confirmed in at least one sample. Δ8-THC was confirmed in 11 samples, with or without the present of Δ9-THC. A high concentration of 11-OH-Δ9-THC or Δ9-THCCOOH (>400 ng/mL) was confirmed in three samples. CBD, Δ9-THCA-A, THCV, CBN, and CBG were confirmed in 74, 39, 44, 107, and 112 of the 179 confirmed Δ9-THC positive samples, respectively. The quantitation of multiple cannabinoids and metabolites in oral fluid simultaneously provides valuable information for revealing cannabinoid consumption and interpreting cannabinoid-induced driving impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Lin
- Forensic Fluids Laboratories, 225 Parson Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA
| | | | - Jerome Reed
- Forensic Fluids Laboratories, 225 Parson Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA
| | - Pornkamol Huang
- Forensic Fluids Laboratories, 225 Parson Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA
| | | | - Dave Lemberg
- Forensic Fluids Laboratories, 225 Parson Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49009, USA
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Luo YR, Yun C, Lynch KL. Quantitation of Cannabinoids in Breath Samples Using a Novel Derivatization LC–MS/MS Assay with Ultra-High Sensitivity. J Anal Toxicol 2019; 43:331-339. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkz023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
As the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana use expands, measurement of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in human breath has become an area of interest. The presence and concentration of cannabinoids in breath have been shown to correlate with recent marijuana use and may be correlated with impairment. Given the low concentration of THC in human breath, sensitive analytical methods are required to further evaluate its utility and window of detection. This paper describes a novel derivatization method based on an azo coupling reaction that significantly increases the ionization efficiency of cannabinoids for LC–MS/MS analysis. This derivatization reaction allows for a direct derivatization reaction with neat samples and does not require further sample clean-up after derivatization, thus facilitating an easy and rapid “derivatize & shoot” sample preparation. The derivatization assay allowed for limits of quantitation (LOQ’s) in the sub-pg/mL to pg/mL range for the five cannabinoids in breath samples, i.e., only 5~50 femtograms of an analyte was required for quantitation in a single analysis. This ultrahigh sensitivity allowed for the quantitation of cannabinoids in all breath samples collected within 3 hours of smoking cannabis (n = 180). A linear correlation between THC and cannabinol (CBN) in human breath was observed, supporting the hypothesis that CBN is converted from THC during the combustion of cannabis. The derivatization method was also applied to the analysis of cannabinoids in whole blood samples, achieving LOQ’s at ten-pg/mL to sub-ng/mL level. This azo coupling-based derivatization approach provided the needed analytical sensitivity for the analysis of THC in human breath samples using LC–MS/MS and could be a valuable tool for the analysis of other aromatic compounds in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqi Ruben Luo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cassandra Yun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kara L Lynch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Bouchene S, Sadeg N, Belhadj-Tahar H. New extraction method of THC and its metabolites, 11-OH-THC and THC-COOH, in plasma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1051/ata/2013029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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Ferreirós N, Labocha S, Walter C, Lötsch J, Geisslinger G. Simultaneous and sensitive LC-MS/MS determination of tetrahydrocannabinol and metabolites in human plasma. Anal Bioanal Chem 2012; 405:1399-406. [PMID: 23104316 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-012-6501-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2012] [Revised: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 10/15/2012] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis is not only a widely used illicit drug but also a substance which can be used in pharmacological therapy because of its analgesic, antiemetic, and antispasmodic properties. A very rapid and sensitive method for determination of ∆(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal active component of cannabis, and two of its phase I metabolites in plasma has been developed and validated. After solid-phase extraction of plasma (0.2 mL), the clean extracts were analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry after a 5-min liquid chromatographic separation. The linear calibration ranges were from 0.05 to 30 ng mL(-1) for THC and 11-nor-∆(9)-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) and from 0.2 to 30 ng mL(-1) for ∆(9)-(11-OH)-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC). Imprecision and inaccuracy were always below 7 and 12 % (expressed as relative standard deviation and relative error), respectively. The method has been successfully applied to determination of the three analytes in plasma obtained from healthy volunteers after oral administration of 20 mg dronabinol.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ferreirós
- Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Quintela O, Crouch DJ. The determination of cannabinoids using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 902:75-90. [PMID: 22767109 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-934-1_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Because of their prevalence in drugged driving and other medicolegal investigations, cannabinoids are routinely analyzed by forensic laboratories. Until relatively recently, these analyses were performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). However, the need for derivatization and extensive sample preparation made GC-MS approaches tedious and time consuming. As a consequence, many laboratories have explored alternative analysis techniques. The advent of more affordable liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) instruments and the utility of atmospheric pressure ionization sources have made LC-MS a promising alternative to GC-MS for the detection and quantitation of cannabinoids in forensic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Quintela
- Instituto Nacional de Toxicología, Las Rozas de Madrid, Madrid, Spain. oscar.quitela.mju.es
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Jagerdeo E, Schaff JE, Montgomery MA, LeBeau MA. A semi-automated solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of tetrahydrocannabinol and metabolites in whole blood. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2009; 23:2697-2705. [PMID: 19630026 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Marijuana is one of the most commonly abused illicit substances in the USA, making cannabinoids important to detect in clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories. Historically, cannabinoids in biological fluids have been derivatized and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). There has been a gradual shift in many laboratories towards liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) for this analysis due to its improved sensitivity and reduced sample preparation compared with GC/MS procedures. This paper reports a validated method for the analysis of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its two main metabolites, 11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) and 11-hydroxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH), in whole blood samples. The method has also been validated for cannabinol (CBD) and cannabidiol (CDN), two cannabinoids that were shown not to interfere with the method. This method has been successfully applied to samples both from living people and from deceased individuals obtained during autopsy. This method utilizes online solid-phase extraction (SPE) with LC/MS. Pretreatment of samples involves protein precipitation, sample concentration, ultracentrifugation, and reconstitution. The online SPE procedure was developed using Hysphere C8-EC sorbent. A chromatographic gradient with an Xterra MS C(18) column was used for the separation. Four multiple-reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions were monitored for each analyte and internal standard. Linearity generally fell between 2 and 200 ng/mL. The limits of detection (LODs) ranged from 0.5 to 3 ng/mL and the limits of quantitation (LOQs) ranged from 2 to 8 ng/mL. The bias and imprecision were determined using a simple analysis of variance (ANOVA: single factor). The results demonstrate bias as <7%, and imprecision as <9%, for all components at each quantity control level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eshwar Jagerdeo
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory, Quantico, VA 22135, USA.
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Current literature in mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2006; 41:128-39. [PMID: 16402416 DOI: 10.1002/jms.948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
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