Preparation and application of UPLC silica microsphere stationary phase:A review

In this review, microspheres for ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) were reviewed in accordance with the literature in recent years. As people's demands for chromatography are becoming more and more sophisticated, the preparation and application of UPLC stationary phases have become the focus of researchers in this field. This new analytical separation science not only maintains the practicality and principle of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), but also improves the step function of chromatographic performance. The review presents the morphology of four types of sub-2 μm silica microspheres that have been used in UPLC, including non-porous silica microspheres (NPSMs), mesoporous silica microspheres (MPSMs), hollow silica microspheres (HSMs) and core-shell silica microspheres (CSSMs). The preparation, pore control and modification methods of different microspheres are introduced in the review, and then the applications of UPLC in drug analysis and separation, environmental monitoring, and separation of macromolecular proteins was presented. Finally, a brief overview of the existing challenges in the preparation of sub-2 μm microspheres, which required further research and development, was given.

Mass-Suite: a novel open-source python package for high-resolution mass spectrometry data analysis

Mass-Suite (MSS) is a Python-based, open-source software package designed to analyze high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based non-targeted analysis (NTA) data, particularly for water quality assessment and other environmental applications. MSS provides flexible, user-defined workflows for HRMS data processing and analysis, including both basic functions (e.g., feature extraction, data reduction, feature annotation, data visualization, and statistical analyses) and advanced exploratory data mining and predictive modeling capabilities that are not provided by currently available open-source software (e.g., unsupervised clustering analyses, a machine learning-based source tracking and apportionment tool). As a key advance, most core MSS functions are supported by machine learning algorithms (e.g., clustering algorithms and predictive modeling algorithms) to facilitate function accuracy and/or efficiency. MSS reliability was validated with mixed chemical standards of known composition, with 99.5% feature extraction accuracy and ~ 52% overlap of extracted features relative to other open-source software tools. Example user cases of laboratory data evaluation are provided to illustrate MSS functionalities and demonstrate reliability. MSS expands available HRMS data analysis workflows for water quality evaluation and environmental forensics, and is readily integrated with existing capabilities. As an open-source package, we anticipate further development of improved data analysis capabilities in collaboration with interested users.

Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometric method for determination of 425 drugs and poisons in dried blood spots and application to forensic cases

PURPOSE

An analytical method using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was established and validated for screening 425 drugs and poisons in dried blood spots (DBSs).

METHODS

Blood (20 μL) was spotted on Whatman FTA™ classic card to prepare DBS sample, then extracted with 150 μL methanol and analyzed by LC-MS/MS using a multiple reaction monitoring method.

RESULTS

The limit of detection of the compounds were 0.1-10 ng/mL. The values for recovery and matrix effect were 40.3-114.9% and 40.2-118.4%, respectively. This method was successfully applied to DBS samples from 105 humans suspected of drug poisoning, which was stored for 3-5 years at room temperature. Thirty-three kinds of drugs, including benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, antidepressants, antipyretic analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antiepileptic drugs, new psychoactive drugs were confirmed in 102 cases, while no compound was detected in the other 3 cases. Estazolam, a benzodiazepine widely used in clinical practice as a sedative, hypnotic, and anti-anxiety drug, was the most frequently detected substance, occurring in 34.2% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Most drugs in DBS could still be detected after storage for 3-5 years, but ambroxol, zopiclone, carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, and valproic acid were not detectable after 3-5 years of storage at room temperature. The components measured in DBS were consistent with those measured in whole blood at the collection time, thereby confirming that DBS samples have the advantage of stable storage at room temperature.

A New Broad-Spectrum Drug Screen for 127 Analytes by LC-MS/MS

BACKGROUND

Broad-spectrum drug screening is offered by many clinical laboratories to support investigation of possible drug exposures. The traditional broad-spectrum drug screen employed at our laboratory utilizes several different analytical platforms, thus requiring relatively high volumes of sample and a cumbersome workflow. Here we describe the development and validation of a consolidated broad-spectrum drug screen assay designed to qualitatively detect 127 compounds in urine (Ur) and serum/plasma (S/P) samples.

METHODS

An LC-MS/MS method was developed using the Ultivo LC-MS/MS and designed to be qualitative with a 1-point calibration curve and 50% to 150% controls. Sample preparation included the addition of 122 internal standards (IS) followed by mixed-mode strong cation exchange solid-phase extraction and reverse-phase chromatographic separation on a biphenyl column.

RESULTS

For the method described herein, ≥ 95% of analytes in urine and serum control samples had a CV of ≤20% for total imprecision. Accuracy testing included 46 external controls and demonstrated 99.9% accuracy. Method comparison studies to quantitative testing are discussed. The high level of coverage of the analytes with a stable isotope-labeled IS (SIL-IS) helped normalize for matrix effects when significant ion suppression (>25%) was present. Analyte stability in the matrix, the impact of potentially interfering compounds, and method ruggedness were demonstrated. Method limitations include limited detection of glucuronidated drugs and potential cross-contamination with samples at very high concentrations (>>100 × cutoff).

CONCLUSIONS

The broad-spectrum drug screen method developed here qualitatively detected 127 drugs and select metabolites. This method could be used to support investigations of possible drug exposures in a clinical setting.

First-Line Toxicological Screening with Fully Automated Extraction

In clinical toxicology, laboratories need screening methods allowing unambiguous identification of the compounds in a short turnaround time to either confirm or exclude the hypothesis of drug overdose or poisoning with a toxicant. We developed a fully automated screening procedure designed to identify and quantify in a single run 245 compounds of interest in clinical toxicology. Sample extraction was carried out by a programmable liquid handler directly coupled to a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) system. Data acquisition was performed in the positive and negative ionization modes with up to 15 multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions per compound, each with optimized collision energy to enable both qualitative library searching and quantitation. The method was validated according to the ISO 15189 requirements and was applied to real patient samples (n = 127). The 15 MRM transitions per compound provided higher confidence for the identification of all the compounds. The quantitative method was fully validated with satisfactory intra- and inter-assay imprecision and inaccuracy with CV% lower than 20%. For only nine molecules, imprecision and inaccuracy were relatively high but never exceeded 31.7%. Comparison with dedicated quantitative methods using conventional MRM monitoring performed using 127 patient samples (n = 175 pairs of measured concentrations) showed excellent correlation (R2 = 0.96). A robustness study showed that calibration curves prepared for up to 1 month yielded uncertainty < 20%. Retention times ranged from 0.89 min for metformin to 9.72 min for difenacoum. The automated sample preparation required 8 min and was followed by 10 min chromatographic separation. This first-line screening procedure yields high confidence in compound detection and should be useful in core labs facing clinical toxicology situations where rapid and reliable results are needed.

Simple extraction of toxicologically relevant psychotropic compounds and metabolites from whole blood using mini-QuEChERS followed by UPLC-MS/MS analysis

The determination of psychotropic drugs and metabolites in blood is relevant in the context of both therapeutic drug monitoring and clinical and forensic toxicology. LC-MS/MS is the preferred method for these assays. However, LC-MS/MS is particularly susceptible to matrix ionization effects and appropriate sample preparation is required to minimize these effects. In this study, a simple, single-step, mini-QuEchERS extraction procedure, coupled to UPLC-MS/MS, was developed and validated for the determination of 15 toxicologically relevant compounds in whole blood, including psychoactive drugs and some metabolites. The assay was linear in the range of 25-1,000 ng ml^-1 , fulfilling criteria for accuracy and precision. Extraction yields (71.9-87.7%) and matrix effects (-3.3 to +4.4%, with the exception of codeine, which had matrix effects of -35.36 to -28.14%) were acceptable for the majority of the evaluated compounds, using a single internal standard. The assay was applied to 238 clinical specimens from patients admitted to an emergency service, with 22 samples presenting quantifiable concentrations of 11 different compounds. The developed assay is a simple and efficient strategy for determination of target psychotropic drugs and metabolites in forensic and clinical toxicology.

High Throughput Detection of 327 Drugs in Blood by LC-MS-MS with Automated Data Processing

The described procedure provides a rapid technique for the detection and semi-quantitation of a large number of drugs in blood. This procedure uses a minimal sample volume and employs a one-step liquid extraction and automated data processing to yield rapid turnaround times. A total of 327 of the most commonly used medicinal and illicit drugs in Australia were selected including various amphetamines, anesthetics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, opioid and nonopioid analgesics, stimulants, THC and a large number of synthetic cannabinoids and other novel psychoactive substances. The extracts were subject to 5-minute chromatography using a Kinetex C18 50 × 4.6 mm 2.6 μm solid-core analytical column and analyzed using a Sciex 3200 Q-TRAP MS-MS (+ ESI, MRM mode, two transitions per analyte). The method was fully validated in accordance with international guidelines. Matrix effects and extraction efficiencies were acceptable with most analytes showing > 80% response and low variation (within 25%RSD). Cannabinoids were most affected by the matrix and yielded poorest recovery values but were still detectable. Precision, accuracy, repeatability and multipoint linearity were assessed for all analytes. The method has been used in routine practice in the forensic toxicology service at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine in over 6000 coronial investigations using both postmortem and clinical blood specimens. This technique has greatly increased throughput, reduced turnaround times and allowed for rapid same-day analysis of results when needed. The method is routinely used in routine overnight testing with results reported to pathologists within 4 h of data acquisition. This rapid toxicological technique is used in conjunction with other investigative processes such as full-body CT imaging, review of case circumstances and medical histories to provide an efficient death investigation process.

MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF DRUGS OF ABUSE: CHALLENGES AND EMERGING STRATEGIES

Mass spectrometry has been the "gold standard" for drugs of abuse (DoA) analysis for many decades because of the selectivity and sensitivity it affords. Recent progress in all aspects of mass spectrometry has seen significant developments in the field of DoA analysis. Mass spectrometry is particularly well suited to address the rapidly proliferating number of very high potency, novel psychoactive substances that are causing an alarming number of fatalities worldwide. This review surveys advancements in the areas of sample preparation, gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, as well as the rapidly emerging field of ambient ionization mass spectrometry. We have predominantly targeted literature progress over the past ten years and present our outlook for the future. © 2020 Periodicals, Inc. Mass Spec Rev.

Determination of morphine and its metabolites in the biological samples: an updated review

Morphine (MO) as an opioid analgesic is used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pains, particularly cancer-related pains. Pharmacologic studies on MO are complicated due to drugs binding to the protein or metabolization to active metabolites, and even inter-individual variability. This necessitates the selection of a reliable analytical method for monitoring MO and the concentrations of its metabolites in the biological samples for the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic investigations. Therefore, this study was conducted to review all the analytical research carried out on MO and its metabolites in the biological samples during 2007-2019 as an update to the study by Bosch et al. (2007).

Identification of 'Voodoo': an emerging substance of abuse in Egypt

BACKGROUND

'Voodoo' is a new substance of abuse that recently spread among youth in Egypt. It has numerous potentially dangerous effects on humans. However, to date the composition of the main constituents of this compound is unknown.

PURPOSE

We sought to identify the active components of this unknown substance"voodoo".

METHODS

Three samples were collected and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PAD), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) using targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM).

RESULTS

HPLC-PAD analysis showed that samples 1 and 2 had some common major peaks, the same retention time, and similar spectra, whereas sample 3 showed different peaks. GC/MS analysis revealed the presence of various putatively identified bioactive compounds, including quinazolines, morphinan alkaloid, cannabinoids, penitrem A, and the well-known synthetic cannabinoid FUB-AMB (methyl(2S)-2-{[1-[(4-fluorophenyl)methyl]indazole-3-carbonyl]amino}-3 methylbutanoate). UPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of common compounds such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, tramadol, and oxazepam.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that Voodoo is a mixture of substances of abuse at varying concentrations.

Fully automated semi-quantitative toxicological screening in three biological matrices using turbulent flow chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND

In clinical and forensic toxicology, fast and specific methods are needed for the screening of different classes of drugs. A complete general unknown screening procedure was developed using turbulent flow chromatography with electrospray ionization and Orbitrap mass spectrometry.

METHODS

After protein precipitation, samples were injected directly into the turbulent flow chromatographic system and analyzed with an Orbitrap mass spectrometer. The Exactive® operated in positive and negative modes with alternated high collision dissociation in order to obtain characteristic fragments. We built a library containing 616 compounds by analyzing a reference standard for all the molecules.

RESULTS

Identification was based on retention time, accurate measured mass, isotopic pattern and presence of specific fragments. For each substance, we set a calibration range encompassing infra-therapeutic, therapeutic, supra-therapeutic and toxic concentrations in order to generate semi-quantitative result. For 65% of the components, the limit of detection was below 5 ng/mL. The validation process showed the approach to be selective, sensitive, accurate and precise.

CONCLUSION

The method has been accredited by COFRAC (French Accreditation Committee) according to the ISO 15189 standard. Applicability was successfully tested by analyzing authentic serum, urine and whole blood samples.

Simultaneous Screening of 177 Drugs of Abuse in Urine Using Ultra-performance Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Drug-intoxicated Patients

Objective

The demand for rapid and broad clinical toxicology screening methods to identify drugs of abuse and medicinal drugs is increasing steadily. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-TMS) is increasingly used to screen for drugs of abuse and to identify a wide range of drugs and metabolites in clinical samples. We revised a high-throughput and rapid ultra-performance (UP) LC-TMS method for simultaneous screening of 177 of the most prevalent medicinal drugs and drugs of abuse in urine and validated the quality of performance using system suitability mixture (SSM) and quality control (QC) materials.

Methods

We assessed the limits of detection (LOD) using high concentrations of the test substances. The method was applied to 473 urine samples obtained from patients intoxicated with drugs who visited the emergency center.

Results

The retention time, peak area, and total ion chromatogram of the SSM and QC materials were within the acceptance criteria of the pre-defined acceptance interval. The LODs were <62 ng/ml for 12 commonly encountered drugs. In total, 418 patients (88.4%) tested positive for one or more medicinal drugs or drugs of abuse. Twenty-eight drugs were detected over ten times; the most commonly detected were zolpidem, ephedrine, paracetamol, and chlorpheniramine.

Conclusion

The UPLC-TMS method provided excellent performance for simultaneous screening of a large number of the drugs of abuse in urine samples. We conclude that this robust technique is useful for screening for a large number of drugs and for rapid screening of the most commonly encountered substances in emergency cases.