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Zhang T, Yu Y, Han S, Cong H, Kang C, Shen Y, Yu B. Preparation and application of UPLC silica microsphere stationary phase:A review. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 323:103070. [PMID: 38128378 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2023.103070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingyu Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Yaru Yu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Shuiquan Han
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Hailin Cong
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China; Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
| | - Chuankui Kang
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Youqing Shen
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; Center for Bionanoengineering and Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China
| | - Bing Yu
- Institute of Biomedical Materials and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China; State Key Laboratory of Bio-Fibers and Eco-Textiles, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China.
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2
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Houzé P, Borowski I, Bito E, Magny R, Morcos A, Voicu S, Mégarbane B, Labat L. New Trend in Toxicological Screening Using Volumetric Absorptive Microsampling (VAMS) and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HR/MS) Combination. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28083466. [PMID: 37110698 PMCID: PMC10141006 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28083466] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In toxicology, screenings are routinely performed using chromatographic methods coupled to detection systems such as high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR/MS). The increase in specificity and sensitivity of HRMS is responsible for the development of methods for alternative samples such as Volumetric Adsorptive Micro-Sampling. Whole blood overloaded with 90 drugs was sampled with 20 µL MitraTM to optimize the pre-analytical step as well as to determine the identification limits of drugs. Elution of chemicals was carried out in a solvent mixture through agitation and sonication. After dissolution, 10 μL was injected into the chromatographic system coupled to the OrbitrapTM HR/MS. Compounds were confirmed against the laboratory library. The clinical feasibility was assessed in fifteen poisoned patients using the simultaneous sampling of plasma, whole blood and MitraTM. The optimized extraction procedure allowed us to confirm 87 compounds out of the 90 present in the spiked whole blood. Cannabis derivatives were not detected. For 82.2% of the investigated drugs, the identification limits were below 12.5 ng·mL-1, with the extraction yields ranging from 80.6 to 108.7%. Regarding the patients' analysis, 98% of the compounds in plasma were detected in MitraTM compared to whole blood, with a satisfying concordance (R2 = 0.827). Our novel screening approach opens new insights into different toxicologic fields appropriate for pediatrics, forensics or to perform mass screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pascal Houzé
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
- Chemical and Biological Health Technologies Unit (UTCBS), CNRS UMR8258-U1022, University of Paris, 4 Avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Ilona Borowski
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Eugénie Bito
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Romain Magny
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
- INSERM UMRS-1144, University of Paris, 4 Avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France
| | - Athina Morcos
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Sebastian Voicu
- INSERM UMRS-1144, University of Paris, 4 Avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France
- Department of Medical and Toxicological Critical Care, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Bruno Mégarbane
- INSERM UMRS-1144, University of Paris, 4 Avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France
- Department of Medical and Toxicological Critical Care, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
| | - Laurence Labat
- Laboratory of Toxicology, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
- Department of Medical and Toxicological Critical Care, Federation of Toxicology, Lariboisière Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 10 rue Ambroise Paré, 75010 Paris, France
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3
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Heinsvig PJ, Noble C, Dalsgaard PW, Mardal M. Forensic drug screening by liquid chromatography hyphenated with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). Trends Analyt Chem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2023.117023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
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4
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Hao Y, Lynch K, Fan P, Jurtschenko C, Cid M, Zhao Z, Yang HS. Development of a Machine Learning Algorithm for Drug Screening Analysis on High-Resolution UPLC-MSE/QTOF Mass Spectrometry. J Appl Lab Med 2023; 8:53-66. [PMID: 36610415 DOI: 10.1093/jalm/jfac100] [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: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)-MSE/quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) high-resolution mass spectrometry employs untargeted, data-independent acquisition in a dual mode that simultaneously collects precursor ions and product ions at low and ramped collision energies, respectively. However, algorithmic analysis of large-scale multivariate data of comprehensive drug screening as well as the positivity criteria of drug identification have not been systematically investigated. It is also unclear whether ion ratio (IR), the intensity ratio of a defined product ion divided by the precursor ion, is a stable parameter that can be incorporated into the MSE/QTOF data analysis algorithm. METHODS IR of 91 drugs were experimentally determined and variation of IR was investigated across 5 concentrations measured on 3 different days. A data-driven machine learning approach was employed to develop multivariate linear regression (MLR) models incorporating mass error, retention time, number of detected fragment ions and IR, accuracy of isotope abundance, and peak response using drug-supplemented urine samples. Performance of the models was evaluated in an independent data set of unknown clinical urine samples in comparison with the results of manual analysis. RESULTS IR of most compounds acquired by MSE/QTOF were low and concentration-dependent (i.e., IR increased at higher concentrations). We developed an MLR model with composite score outputs incorporating 7 parameters to predict positive drug identification. The model achieved a mean accuracy of 89.38% in the validation set and 87.92% agreement in the test set. CONCLUSIONS The MLR model incorporating all contributing parameters can serve as a decision-support tool to facilitate objective drug identification using UPLC-MSE/QTOF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Hao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kara Lynch
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pengcheng Fan
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Core Laboratory, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY
| | | | - Maria Cid
- Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - He S Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine Center, New York, NY, USA
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Wille SMR, Desharnais B, Pichini S, Trana AD, Busardò FP, Wissenbach DK, Peters FT. Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry in Forensic Toxicology: What Are the Specifics of Method Development, Validation and Quality Assurance for Comprehensive Screening Approaches? Curr Pharm Des 2022; 28:1230-1244. [PMID: 35619258 DOI: 10.2174/1381612828666220526152259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The use of High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) has increased over the past decade in clinical and forensic toxicology, especially for comprehensive screening approaches. Despite this, few guidelines of this field have specifically addressed HRMS issues concerning compound identification, validation, measurement uncertainty and quality assurance. To fully implement this technique, certainly in an era in which the quality demands for laboratories are ever increasing due to various norms (e.g. the International Organization for Standardization's ISO 17025), these specific issues need to be addressed. This manuscript reviews 26 HRMS-based methods for qualitative systematic toxicological analysis (STA) published between 2011 and 2021. Key analytical data such as samples matrices, analytical platforms, numbers of analytes and employed mass spectral reference databases/libraries as well as the studied validation parameters are summarized and discussed. The article further includes a critical review of targeted and untargeted data acquisition approaches, available HRMS reference databases and libraries as well as current guidelines for HRMS data interpretation with a particular focus on identification criteria. Moreover, it provides an overview on current recommendations for the validation and determination measurement uncertainty of qualitative methods. Finally, the article aims to put forward suggestions for method development, compound identification, validation experiments to be performed, and adequate determination of measurement uncertainty for this type of wide-range qualitative HRMS-based methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M R Wille
- Unit Toxicology, National Institute of Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Brigitte Desharnais
- Laboratoire de sciences judiciaires et de médecine légale, Department of Toxicology, 1701 Parthenais St., Montréal, Québec, H2K 3S7, Canada
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Annagiulia Di Trana
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University "Politecnica delle Marche", Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University "Politecnica delle Marche", Ancona, Italy
| | - Dirk K Wissenbach
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
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6
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Zarrouk E, Lenski M, Bruno C, Thibert V, Contreras P, Privat K, Ameline A, Fabresse N. High-resolution mass spectrometry: Theoretical and technological aspects. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2021.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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7
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Pope JD, Black MJ, Drummer OH, Schneider HG. Urine toxicology screening by liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry in a quaternary hospital setting. Clin Biochem 2021; 95:66-72. [PMID: 33989561 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2021.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Validation of a non-targeted method for urine drug screening (UDS) by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF), and comparison to an established GC-MS method in a hospital setting. METHODS 217 UDS specimens sent to a quaternary hospital pathology department, were analysed by a CEDIA® immunoassay screen (six drug panels; amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cocaine metabolites, cannabinoids and opiates) on an Abbott Architect instrument. Specimens were subsequently analysed by an established non-targeted qualitative GC-MS method and results compared with a general unknown screening method by LC-QTOF that was under evaluation as a replacement method. RESULTS 42 selected drugs were evaluated; limits of identification ranged from 2 to 100 µg/L and most drugs (n = 39) were stabile for 24 h after preparation. Matrix effects greater than 25% were observed in seven of the selected drugs. 87% of the specimens tested positive to 1 or more drug panels in a CEDIA® screen. A total of 537 positive drug findings were identified by GC-MS compared to 1,267 positive findings by LC-QTOF. On average, each GC-MS screen identified 2.5 ± 1.8 drugs and the LC-QTOF screen identified 5.8 ± 3.2 drugs. No drugs were identified in 11.3% of the GC-MS screens, whereas drugs were detected in 99% of these by the LC-QTOF. In almost all instances, the LC-QTOF screen could provide mass spectrometric confirmatory results of positive immunoassay screens and was able to identify a wider range of additional drugs and drug metabolites. CONCLUSIONS The described general unknown screening (non-targeted, qualitative) LC-QTOF method can detect a larger range of drugs encountered in a hospital setting. The method has been shown to be suitable for comprehensive toxicology screening in a clinical toxicology laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Pope
- Clinical Biochemistry, Alfred Health, 55 Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Monash University, Australia.
| | - Marion J Black
- Clinical Biochemistry, Alfred Health, 55 Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia
| | - Olaf H Drummer
- School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Monash University, Australia; Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, 65 Kavanagh St, Southbank 3006, Australia
| | - Hans G Schneider
- Clinical Biochemistry, Alfred Health, 55 Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Commercial Rd, Melbourne 3004, Monash University, Australia
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8
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Stephenson JB, Flater ML, Austin J, Bain LT, Holt LA, Mehan JM. Comprehensive Drug Screening of Whole Blood by LC-HRMS-MS in a Forensic Laboratory. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 45:243-251. [PMID: 32591786 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As the number of prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and drugs of abuse continue to increase, forensic laboratories are faced with the challenge of developing more comprehensive screening methods in order to detect them in whole blood samples. Another challenge faced by forensic laboratories is detecting and identifying novel synthetic compounds as they emerge and change. Traditional drug screening methods include enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and either gas or liquid chromatography paired with mass spectrometry (GC-MS or LC-MS-MS, respectively). While these methods are good, they have their disadvantages. For example, EIA requires special reagents for each drug class, GC-MS requires extensive sample preparation, and LC-MS-MS only detects drugs on a known inclusion lists of compounds of interest. Described here is the development of a robust and comprehensive screening method for drugs in whole blood samples that eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages of the traditional methods. Using a Q Exactive Focus™ liquid chromatography-high-resolution accurate mass spectrometer (LC-HRMS-MS), a method was developed that is capable of detecting ~200 drugs at a concentration of 2 μg/L for most analytes. This method also employs a more automated data processing feature which reduces processing time. Finally, it has the added benefit of retroactive data analysis, which allows it to be used for unknown drug analysis as well. Used as an initial screening method, the comprehensive drug screen using LC-HRMS-MS has the potential to take on two of the most important challenges faced by forensic laboratories today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon B Stephenson
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034, USA
| | - Melanie L Flater
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034, USA
| | - Joseph Austin
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034, USA
| | - Lisa T Bain
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034, USA
| | - Lisa A Holt
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034, USA
| | - Jessica M Mehan
- Georgia Bureau of Investigation Division of Forensic Sciences, P.O. Box 370808, Decatur, GA 30034, USA
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9
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Di Rago M, Pantatan S, Hargreaves M, Wong K, Mantinieks D, Kotsos A, Glowacki L, Drummer OH, Gerostamoulos D. High Throughput Detection of 327 Drugs in Blood by LC-MS-MS with Automated Data Processing. J Anal Toxicol 2021; 45:154-183. [PMID: 32451548 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Di Rago
- Toxicology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Supranee Pantatan
- Toxicology, Central Institute of Forensic Science, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Melynda Hargreaves
- Toxicology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katherine Wong
- Toxicology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dylan Mantinieks
- Toxicology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alex Kotsos
- Toxicology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
| | - Linda Glowacki
- Toxicology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank, Victoria, Australia
| | - Olaf H Drummer
- Toxicology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dimitri Gerostamoulos
- Toxicology, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Southbank, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Abstract
Synthetic drugs of abuse contain various psychoactive substances. These substances have recently emerged as novel drugs of abuse in public; thus, they are known as novel psychoactive substances (NPS). As these compounds are artificially synthesized in a laboratory, they are also called designer drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones are the two primary classes of NPS or designer drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids, also known as "K2" or "Spice," are potent agonists of the cannabinoid receptors. Synthetic cathinones, known as "Bath salts," are beta-keto amphetamine derivatives. These compounds can cause severe intoxication, including overdose deaths. NPS are accessible locally and online. NPS are scheduled in the US and other countries, but the underground chemists keep modifying the chemical structure of these compounds to avoid legal regulation; thus, these compounds have been evolving rapidly. These drugs are not detectable by traditional drug screening, and thus, these substances are mainly abused by young individuals and others who wish to avoid drug detection. These compounds are analyzed primarily by mass spectrometry.
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11
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Borden SA, Palaty J, Termopoli V, Famiglini G, Cappiello A, Gill CG, Palma P. MASS SPECTROMETRY ANALYSIS OF DRUGS OF ABUSE: CHALLENGES AND EMERGING STRATEGIES. MASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS 2020; 39:703-744. [PMID: 32048319 DOI: 10.1002/mas.21624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A Borden
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
| | - Jan Palaty
- LifeLabs Medical Laboratories, Burnaby, BC, V3W 1H8, Canada
| | - Veronica Termopoli
- LC-MS Laboratory, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Giorgio Famiglini
- LC-MS Laboratory, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Achille Cappiello
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5, Canada
- LC-MS Laboratory, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy
| | - Chris G Gill
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8P 5C2, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195
| | - Pierangela Palma
- Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 5S5, Canada
- LC-MS Laboratory, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029, Urbino, Italy
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12
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Fontana A, Iturrino L, Corens D, Crego AL. Automated open-access liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry to support drug discovery projects. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019; 178:112908. [PMID: 31610393 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.112908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The need of a continuous productivity increases in medicinal chemistry laboratories of the pharmaceutical industry motivated the development, over the years, of new software solutions to enable Open-Access in many analytical techniques such as NMR or LC, among others, to characterize and assess the purity of new molecules. These approaches have been widely spread in LC with low resolution MS systems, but similar automated platforms have been rather less explored with high resolution MS. In this work, an improved Automated Open-Access methodology on an UHPLC with DAD coupled to ESI and quadrupole time-of-flight MS system is described. Detailed reports from standard UHPLC-MS runs containing chromatograms and different spectra (MS with different fragmentation) are automatically sent to the chemists. High resolution MS data is typically achieved within ± 1 mDa mass accuracy regardless of sample concentration. Upon training, chemists log-in samples into the system by selecting appropriate methods, being able to interpret the results by themselves in 95% of the cases. The instrument is working unattended, except for a limited number of samples (5%) which require more complex experiments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a completely automated Open-Access LC-HRMS approach has been implemented for medicinal chemists of a pharmaceutical industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Fontana
- Analytical Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, A Division of Janssen-Cilag, S.A. C/Jarama 75A, 45007, Toledo, Spain.
| | - Laura Iturrino
- Analytical Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, A Division of Janssen-Cilag, S.A. C/Jarama 75A, 45007, Toledo, Spain
| | - David Corens
- Analytical Sciences, Janssen Research & Development, A Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Turnhoutseweg 30, B-2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Antonio L Crego
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Sciences, University of Alcalá, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona, Km. 33.600, 28871, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
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Mesihää S, Rasanen I, Pelander A, Ojanperä I. Quantitative Estimation of 38 Illicit Psychostimulants in Blood by GC-APCI-QTOFMS with Nitrogen Chemiluminescence Detection Based on Three External Calibrators. J Anal Toxicol 2019; 44:163-172. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkz055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
A method was developed for quantitative estimation of illicit psychostimulants in blood, with an emphasis on new psychoactive substances, based on gas chromatography nitrogen chemiluminescence detection coupled with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-NCD-APCI-QTOFMS). Quantitative estimation relied on the NCD’s N-equimolar response to nitrogen, using amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methylenedioxypyrovalerone as external calibrators for prim-, sec- and tert- amines, respectively. After spiking with 38 stimulants at 3 concentration levels, the donor blood samples were submitted to liquid–liquid extraction at a basic pH followed by acylation with trifluoroacetic anhydride. All but 3 psychostimulants could be analyzed with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.05 mg/L. At LOQ, the coefficient of variation (CV) values for between-day accuracy was 62.3–143.3% (mean, 93.5%; median, 88.5%) and precision 6.6–22.4% (mean, 15.8%; median, 16.1%). In addition, 11 post-mortem blood samples, containing 0.08–2.4 mg/L of amphetamine (n = 5), methamphetamine (n = 4) or MDMA (n = 4), were analyzed by the GC-NCD-APCI-QTOFMS method, and the results were compared with an established electron ionization GC–MS method with appropriate calibration. The agreement between the 2 methods was 62.5–117.3%. Regarding identification, the APCI source permitted detection of the intact precursor ion, or the respective acylation product, for all of the measured compounds. The GC-NCD-APCI-QTOFMS method developed here enables instant quantitative estimation of illicit psychostimulants in blood at reasonable accuracy, without the necessity of possessing the true reference standards for each analyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Mesihää
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, PO Box 40, Helsinki, Finland
- Forensic Toxicology Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilpo Rasanen
- Forensic Toxicology Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Pelander
- Forensic Toxicology Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Ojanperä
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, PO Box 40, Helsinki, Finland
- Forensic Toxicology Unit, National Institute for Health and Welfare, PO Box 30, Helsinki, Finland
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Rosano TG, Ohouo PY, Wood M. Application of High-Resolution UPLC–MSE/TOF Confirmation in Forensic Urine Drug Screening by UPLC–MS/MS. J Anal Toxicol 2019; 43:353-363. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bky106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Rosano
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, USA
- Clinical and Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, National Toxicology Center, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Patrice Y Ohouo
- Clinical and Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, National Toxicology Center, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Wood
- Waters Corporation, Health Sciences Organization, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, UK
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Pope JD, Drummer OH, Schneider HG. The cocaine cutting agent levamisole is frequently detected in cocaine users. Pathology 2018; 50:536-539. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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16
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Pope JD, Weng Choy K, Drummer OH, Schneider HG. Novel Benzodiazepines (Clonazolam and Flubromazolam) Identified in Candy-Like Pills. J Appl Lab Med 2018; 3:48-55. [DOI: 10.1373/jalm.2017.025387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
To identify the contents of pills found on an intoxicated patient by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTof).5 To highlight the potential ability that this technique can add to the clinical laboratory.
Methods
Illicit PEZ-like pills purchased from an online vendor, containing unknown substances, were investigated by UHPLC-QTof. Accurate mass and experimental data were obtained. Tentative identifications were subsequently confirmed with commercial standards.
Results
Accurate mass data, high-energy mass spectra, elucidation software, and a review of the scientific literature enabled the tentative identification of clonazolam and flubromazolam in the PEZ-like pills. On the basis of these tentative identifications, commercial standards were purchased to confirm the initial findings. On subsequent reinterrogation of the data, flubromazolam was identified in the urine specimen of the patient.
Conclusions
Utilizing high-resolution mass data, 2 novel benzodiazepines were tentatively identified by reinterrogation of a routine analysis for drugs of abuse. Use of UHPLC-QTof in a clinical toxicology laboratory provides additional capabilities to explain and potentially improve treatment of patients presenting to the emergency department with symptoms possibly due to toxic substance ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Pope
- Clinical Biochemistry, Alfred Health, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Kay Weng Choy
- Clinical Biochemistry, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Olaf H Drummer
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hans G Schneider
- Clinical Biochemistry, Alfred Health, Commercial Road, Melbourne, Australia
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Seither JZ, Hindle R, Arroyo-Mora LE, DeCaprio AP. Systematic analysis of novel psychoactive substances. I. Development of a compound database and HRMS spectral library. Forensic Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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18
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Ford LT, Berg JD. Analytical evidence to show letters impregnated with novel psychoactive substances are a means of getting drugs to inmates within the UK prison service. Ann Clin Biochem 2018. [PMID: 29534614 DOI: 10.1177/0004563218767462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Novel psychotropic substances also known as legal highs are a major concern in UK prisons, fuelling violence and putting a strain on resources for inmates requiring medical treatment for adverse effects. We provide a clinical toxicology service including routine screening for novel psychoactive substances. In 2015, we were approached by Her Majesty Prison Service search dog training team to advise on which novel psychoactive substances to target, and again in 2016 to further provide analytical support to test five letters which the dogs positively identified for novel psychotropic substances during routine searches of prison mail rooms. Here we provide the first analytical confirmation that letters sent to inmates are being used to smuggle novel psychotropic substances into UK prisons. Results Novel psychotropic substances were detected on all five letters and these included the stimulants ethylphenidate, methiopropamine and methoxiphenidaine, the sedative etizolam and the third generation synthetic cannabinoids 5F-AKB-48, AB-FUBINACA, MDMB-CHMICA. Other compounds detected include the class A drug cocaine, class B drug methylphenidate and the cutting agents lignocaine, benzocaine and procaine. Conclusion Novel psychotropic substances smuggled into UK prisons is a major safety and security concern. By analytically confirming letters sent to inmates do contain novel psychotropic substances, we have produced categorical evidence to support anecdotal suggestions that novel psychotropic substances are entering UK prisons in this manner.
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Caspar AT, Kollas AB, Maurer HH, Meyer MR. Development of a quantitative approach in blood plasma for low-dosed hallucinogens and opioids using LC-high resolution mass spectrometry. Talanta 2017; 176:635-645. [PMID: 28917801 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2017.08.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The WHO annually reports an increasing abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS), which are a heterogeneous group of synthetic drugs and are consumed as substitute for controlled drugs of abuse. In this work, we focused on highly potent derivatives such those of phenethylamine (2C), N-2-methoxybenzyl phenethylamine (NBOMes), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and fentanyl. Severe to fatal intoxications were described due to their high potency. Therefore, they have to be taken at very low doses resulting in low blood concentration in the low ng/mL range, which is a challenge for reliable analytical detection and quantification. The aim of this work was therefore to design a simple, robust, and fast method for simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple substances of the different classes in human blood plasma using liquid chromatography (LC) high resolution (HR) mass spectrometry (MS) with alternating HR full-scan (HRFS) MS and "All-ions fragmentation" (AIF) MS. The paper contains results of the method validation according to the EMA guideline, including intra-/interday accuracy and precision, matrix effects, storage and benchtop analyte stability as well as selectivity and carryover. All validation criteria were fulfilled for most tested compounds except for the NBOMe derivatives, one out of ten 2C-derivatives and butyryl fentanyl, which failed at accuracy and/or precision or at the acceptance criteria for matrix effect. Reasons for this are discussed and solutions presented. Despite some limitations, the HRFS + AIFMS analysis allowed detection of most of the analytes down to 0.1ng/mL, seamless integration of new or unexpected analytes, identification and quantification with no limitations on the number of monitored compounds, and reevaluation of the acquired data also concerning metabolism studies using group-indicating fragment ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim T Caspar
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Andreas B Kollas
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Hans H Maurer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Markus R Meyer
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Toxicology, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Center for Molecular Signaling (PZMS), Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.
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Sundström M, Pelander A, Ojanperä I. Comparison of Post-targeted and Pre-targeted Urine Drug Screening by UHPLC–HR-QTOFMS. J Anal Toxicol 2017; 41:623-630. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkx044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
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Rosano TG, Ohouo PY, Wood M. Screening with Quantification for 64 Drugs and Metabolites in Human Urine using UPLC–MS-MS Analysis and a Threshold Accurate Calibration. J Anal Toxicol 2017; 41:536-546. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkx035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Ford LT, Berg JD. Analysis of legal high materials by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry as part of a toxicology vigilance system: what are the most popular novel psychoactive substances in the UK? Ann Clin Biochem 2017; 54:219-229. [PMID: 27166311 DOI: 10.1177/0004563216651646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Legal highs also known as novel psychoactive substances mimic the effects of classic drugs of abuse. Challenges to developing screening services for novel psychoactive substances include identifying which novel psychoactive substances are available to target. Using new techniques such as exact mass time of flight can help identify common novel psychoactive substances to target for screening patient samples by routine methods such as tandem mass spectrometry. We demonstrate this strategy working in our own clinical toxicology laboratory after qualitative analysis of 98 suspect materials for novel psychoactive substances by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry. Results From July 2014 to July 2015 we received 98 requests to test a range of different suspect materials for novel psychoactive substances including herbs, tobacco, liquids, pills and powders. Overall, 87% of the suspect materials tested positive for novel psychoactive substances, and 15% for controlled drugs. Three common novel psychoactive substances were present in 74% of the suspect materials: methiopropamine, a methamphetamine analogue; ethylphenidate, a cocaine mimic; and the third generation synthetic cannabinoid 5F-AKB-48. For the 55 branded products we tested only 24% of the stated contents matched exactly the compounds we detected. Conclusion Testing suspect materials using ultra-performance liquid chromatography with time of flight mass spectrometry has identified three common novel psychoactive substances in use in the UK, simplifying the development of a relevant novel psychoactive substances screening service to our population. By incorporating this into our routine liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry drugs of abuse screen, then offers a clinically relevant novel psychoactive substances service to our users. This strategy ensures our clinical toxicology service continues to remain effective to meet the challenges of the changing drug use in the UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loretta T Ford
- Department Clinical Biochemistry, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jonathan D Berg
- Department Clinical Biochemistry, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
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23
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Abouchedid R, Hudson S, Thurtle N, Yamamoto T, Ho JH, Bailey G, Wood M, Sadones N, Stove CP, Dines A, Archer JRH, Wood DM, Dargan PI. Analytical confirmation of synthetic cannabinoids in a cohort of 179 presentations with acute recreational drug toxicity to an Emergency Department in London, UK in the first half of 2015. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2017; 55:338-345. [PMID: 28421836 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2017.1287373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are the largest group of new psychoactive substances reported in the last decade; in this study we investigated how commonly these drugs are found in patients presenting to the Emergency Department with acute recreational drug toxicity. METHODS We conducted an observational cohort study enrolling consecutive adult patients presenting to an Emergency Department (ED) in London (UK) January-July 2015 (6 months) with acute recreational drug toxicity. Residual serum obtained from a serum sample taken as part of routine clinical care was analyzed using high-resolution accurate mass-spectrometry with liquid-chromatography (HRAM-LCMSMS). Minimum clinical data were obtained from ED medical records. RESULTS 18 (10%) of the 179 patient samples were positive for synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists. The most common was 5F AKB-48 (13 samples, concentration 50-7600 pg/ml), followed by 5F PB-22 (7, 30-400 pg/mL), MDMB-CHMICA (7, 80-8000 pg/mL), AB-CHMINACA (3, 50-1800 pg/mL), Cumyl 5F-PINACA (1, 800 pg/mL) and BB-22 (1, 60 pg/mL). Only 9/18 (50%) in whom synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists were detected self-reported synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist use. The most common clinical features were seizures and agitation, both recorded in four (22%) individuals. Fourteen patients (78%) were discharged from the ED, one of the four admitted to hospital was admitted to critical care. CONCLUSIONS Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists were found in 10% of this cohort with acute recreational drug toxicity but self-reported in only half of these. This suggests that presentations to the ED with acute synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist toxicity may be more common than reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachelle Abouchedid
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK
| | - Simon Hudson
- b Laboratory and Managed Services , LGC Ltd , Fordham , Cambridgeshire, UK
| | - Natalie Thurtle
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK
| | - Takahiro Yamamoto
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK
| | - James H Ho
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK
| | - George Bailey
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK
| | - Michelle Wood
- c Department of Health Sciences , Waters Corporation , Wilmslow , Cheshire, UK
| | - Nele Sadones
- d Laboratory of Toxicology , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium
| | | | - Alison Dines
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK
| | - John R H Archer
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK.,e Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine , King's College London , London , UK
| | - David M Wood
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK.,e Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine , King's College London , London , UK
| | - Paul I Dargan
- a Clinical Toxicology , Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK.,e Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine , King's College London , London , UK
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Bidny S, Gago K, Chung P, Albertyn D, Pasin D. Simultaneous Screening and Quantification of Basic, Neutral and Acidic Drugs in Blood Using UPLC-QTOF-MS. J Anal Toxicol 2016; 41:181-195. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkw118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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25
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Oberacher H, Arnhard K. Current status of non-targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in forensic toxicology. Trends Analyt Chem 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2015.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Colby JM, Thoren KL, Lynch KL. Optimization and Validation of High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Data Analysis Parameters. J Anal Toxicol 2016; 41:1-5. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkw112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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Ford LT, Berg JD. 1-Adamantylamine a simple urine marker for screening for third generation adamantyl-type synthetic cannabinoids by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Ann Clin Biochem 2016; 53:640-646. [DOI: 10.1177/0004563216628892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Synthetic cannabinoids (NOIDS) are novel psychotropic drugs (NPS) currently freely sold in the United Kingdom as ‘research chemicals’. Detection of NOIDS use is not available in current routine methods. Here we describe a marker which helps determine which patients have used these substances. Methods In a test case, ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-Tof) was used to screen the legal high Herbal Haze II, the contents of hand-rolled cigarettes and five patient samples for NOIDS and their metabolites. Results Analysis of legal high Herbal Haze II and cigarettes identified the third generation adamantyl-type NOIDS N-(1-adamantyl)-1-pentyl-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide (AKB-48), 5F-AKB-48 and N-adamantyl-1-fluoropentylindole-3-carboxamide (STS-135). Out of 18 potential metabolites, 1-adamantylamine (C10H17N) was detected in all five urine samples. This adamantyl-type NOID marker was incorporated into our routine LC-MS/MS urine screen. Out of 14,436 random urine samples screened over eight months, 296 (2.05%) tested positive for the adamantyl-type NOID marker. Conclusion We have discovered a urine marker for identifying patients smoking legal high products containing the third generation adamantyl-type NOIDS such as AKB-48 and its fluoropentyl analogue 5F-AKB-48, which are among the most popular NOIDS currently available in legal high products sold in UK. This marker can be incorporated into routine LC-MS/MS drug screening alongside classic drugs of abuse. Positive detection rates for this new legal high marker are greater than for established classic drugs that are routinely screened such as amphetamine. This work highlights the need for a flexible toxicology screening service capable of adapting to changes in drug use such as the growing popularity of legal highs/NPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loretta T Ford
- Department Clinical Biochemistry, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jonathan D Berg
- Department Clinical Biochemistry, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK
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28
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Remane D, Wissenbach DK, Peters FT. Recent advances of liquid chromatography–(tandem) mass spectrometry in clinical and forensic toxicology — An update. Clin Biochem 2016; 49:1051-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2016.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Revised: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Rosano TG, Ohouo PY, LeQue JJ, Freeto SM, Wood M. Definitive Drug and Metabolite Screening in Urine by UPLC–MS-MS Using a Novel Calibration Technique. J Anal Toxicol 2016; 40:628-638. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkw050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Kristofic JJ, Chmiel JD, Jackson GF, Vorce SP, Holler JM, Robinson SL, Bosy TZ. Detection of 25C-NBOMe in Three Related Cases. J Anal Toxicol 2016; 40:466-72. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkw035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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31
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Steger J, Arnhard K, Haslacher S, Geiger K, Singer K, Schlapp M, Pitterl F, Oberacher H. Successful adaption of a forensic toxicological screening workflow employing nontargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to water analysis. Electrophoresis 2016; 37:1085-94. [PMID: 26791338 DOI: 10.1002/elps.201500511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Revised: 01/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Forensic toxicology and environmental water analysis share the common interest and responsibility in ensuring comprehensive and reliable confirmation of drugs and pharmaceutical compounds in samples analyzed. Dealing with similar analytes, detection and identification techniques should be exchangeable between scientific disciplines. Herein, we demonstrate the successful adaption of a forensic toxicological screening workflow employing nontargeted LC/MS/MS under data-dependent acquisition control and subsequent database search to water analysis. The main modification involved processing of an increased sample volume with SPE (500 mL vs. 1-10 mL) to reach LODs in the low ng/L range. Tandem mass spectra acquired with a qTOF instrument were submitted to database search. The targeted data mining strategy was found to be sensitive and specific; automated search produced hardly any false results. To demonstrate the applicability of the adapted workflow to complex samples, 14 wastewater effluent samples collected on seven consecutive days at the local wastewater-treatment plant were analyzed. Of the 88,970 fragment ion mass spectra produced, 8.8% of spectra were successfully assigned to one of the 1040 reference compounds included in the database, and this enabled the identification of 51 compounds representing important illegal drugs, members of various pharmaceutical compound classes, and metabolites thereof.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Steger
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Core Facility Metabolomics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kathrin Arnhard
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Core Facility Metabolomics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sandra Haslacher
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Core Facility Metabolomics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Klaus Singer
- Innsbrucker Kommunalbetriebe AG, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Florian Pitterl
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Core Facility Metabolomics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Herbert Oberacher
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Core Facility Metabolomics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Temerdashev AZ, Grigoriev AM, Rybalchenko IV. Narcotic substances of natural origin and methods of their determination. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2015. [DOI: 10.1134/s1061934816010135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Compound identification in forensic toxicological analysis with untargeted LC-MS-based techniques. Bioanalysis 2015; 7:2825-40. [PMID: 26563687 DOI: 10.4155/bio.15.193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Untargeted LC-MS/MS techniques have become indispensable tools for systematic toxicological analysis. Compound identification is based on the mass spectrometric information obtained, and this may include m/z, isotopic pattern, retention time and fragmentation information. All these different kinds of analytical features can be stored in libraries and databases. Currently, the most competent approach for compound identification involves tandem mass spectral library search. State-of-the-art databases were shown to be sensitive, specific, robust and instrument-independent. Low- and high-resolution instruments can both be used to develop efficient screening workflows. For automated and unattended acquisition of tandem mass spectral data, data-dependent acquisition control is the method of choice. Due to their impressive detection sensitivity, data-independent acquisition techniques are finding increased applicability.
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Identification and quantification of 4′-methoxy-α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone (4-MeOPBP) in human plasma and urine using LC–TOF-MS in an autopsy case. Forensic Toxicol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11419-015-0281-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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35
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Pasin D, Bidny S, Fu S. Analysis of New Designer Drugs in Post-Mortem Blood Using High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. J Anal Toxicol 2014; 39:163-71. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bku144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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36
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Teng X, Liang C, Wang R, Sun T, Rao Y, Ni C, Zeng L, Xiong L, Li Y, Zhang Y. Screening of drugs of abuse and toxic compounds in human whole blood using online solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. J Sep Sci 2014; 38:50-9. [DOI: 10.1002/jssc.201400963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Teng
- State Key Laboratory of New Drug and Pharmaceutical Process; Shanghai Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry; Shanghai P. R. China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence; Shanghai Institute of Forensic Science; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Chen Liang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence; Shanghai Institute of Forensic Science; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Rong Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence; Shanghai Institute of Forensic Science; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Tao Sun
- Esensing Analytical Technology; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Yulan Rao
- Department of Forensic Medicine (Center of Forensic Science); School of Basic Medical Sciences; Fudan University; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Chunfang Ni
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence; Shanghai Institute of Forensic Science; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Libo Zeng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence; Shanghai Institute of Forensic Science; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Lingjuan Xiong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence; Shanghai Institute of Forensic Science; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Yuan Li
- Esensing Analytical Technology; Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Yurong Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence; Shanghai Institute of Forensic Science; Shanghai P. R. China
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Arnhard K, Gottschall A, Pitterl F, Oberacher H. Applying 'Sequential Windowed Acquisition of All Theoretical Fragment Ion Mass Spectra' (SWATH) for systematic toxicological analysis with liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2014; 407:405-14. [PMID: 25366975 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-014-8262-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Revised: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has become an indispensable analytical technique in clinical and forensic toxicology for detection and identification of potentially toxic or harmful compounds. Particularly, non-target LC-MS/MS assays enable extensive and universal screening requested in systematic toxicological analysis. An integral part of the identification process is the generation of information-rich product ion spectra which can be searched against libraries of reference mass spectra. Usually, 'data-dependent acquisition' (DDA) strategies are applied for automated data acquisition. In this study, the 'data-independent acquisition' (DIA) method 'Sequential Windowed Acquisition of All Theoretical Fragment Ion Mass Spectra' (SWATH) was combined with LC-MS/MS on a quadrupole-quadrupole-time-of-flight (QqTOF) instrument for acquiring informative high-resolution tandem mass spectra. SWATH performs data-independent fragmentation of all precursor ions entering the mass spectrometer in 21m/z isolation windows. The whole m/z range of interest is covered by continuous stepping of the isolation window. This allows numerous repeat analyses of each window during the elution of a single chromatographic peak and results in a complete fragment ion map of the sample. Compounds and samples typically encountered in forensic casework were used to assess performance characteristics of LC-MS/MS with SWATH. Our experiments clearly revealed that SWATH is a sensitive and specific identification technique. SWATH is capable of identifying more compounds at lower concentration levels than DDA does. The dynamic range of SWATH was estimated to be three orders of magnitude. Furthermore, the >600,000 SWATH spectra matched led to only 408 incorrect calls (false positive rate = 0.06 %). Deconvolution of generated ion maps was found to be essential for unravelling the full identification power of LC-MS/MS with SWATH. With the available software, however, only semi-automated deconvolution was enabled, which rendered data interpretation a laborious and time-consuming process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Arnhard
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Core Facility Metabolomics, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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38
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Future applications of high-resolution MS to meet the demands for pain management drug testing. Bioanalysis 2014; 6:2839-53. [DOI: 10.4155/bio.14.163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Urine specimens submitted for pain management drug testing often contain multiple psychotherapeutic drugs, in addition to opioids. Immunoassay-based screen-and-confirm approaches typically used for clinical drug testing have limited sensitivity to detect therapeutic concentrations of many drugs prescribed in pain management and do not differentiate between drugs in the same class. In addition, screening for all the various illicit and prescription drugs that may be present in the pain management population requires as many as 10–20 individual immunoassays. High-resolution MS approaches have the potential to transform the way clinical drug testing is performed for pain management.
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39
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Sempio C, Morini L, Vignali C, Groppi A. Simple and sensitive screening and quantitative determination of 88 psychoactive drugs and their metabolites in blood through LC–MS/MS: Application on postmortem samples. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2014; 970:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2014.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Revised: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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40
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Rosano TG, Na S, Ihenetu K, Swift TA, Wood M. Multi-drug and Metabolite Quantification in Postmortem Blood by Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry: Comparison with Nominal Mass Technology. J Anal Toxicol 2014; 38:495-506. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bku066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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41
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Crutchfield CA, Clarke W. Present and Future Applications of High Resolution Mass Spectrometry in the Clinic. Discoveries (Craiova) 2014; 2:e17. [PMID: 32309546 PMCID: PMC6941556 DOI: 10.15190/d.2014.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
High resolution mass spectrometers have directly enabled clinical applications of high clinical utility. These types of mass spectrometers are less known to the general public than their low resolution counterparts and are often ascribed to proteomics or biomarker discovery. This perception is rapidly changing as high resolution mass spectrometers see impact in the areas of clinical toxicology, forensic toxicology, microbiology, and molecular diagnostics as routine analyzers. Applications in these areas are made possible by the unique capacity of high resolution mass spectrometers, typically time-of flight or Orbitrap instruments, to characterize analytical species with sufficient mass resolution to better resolve molecular composition than lower resolution analyzers. This capacity confers a unique source of analytical specificity. In the future, this analytical specificity will likely be well applied to other clinical applications: mass spectrometry based tissue imaging, intraoperative determination of tumor boundaries, and evaluation of metabolic flux.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William Clarke
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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42
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Marzinke MA, Breaud A, Parsons TL, Cohen MS, Piwowar-Manning E, Eshleman SH, Clarke W. The development and validation of a method using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for the qualitative detection of antiretroviral agents in human blood. Clin Chim Acta 2014; 433:157-68. [PMID: 24661980 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2014.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2013] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiretroviral drugs are used for the treatment and prevention of HIV infection. Non-adherence to antiretroviral drug regimens can compromise their clinical efficacy and lead to emergence of drug-resistant HIV. Clinical trials evaluating antiretroviral regimens for HIV treatment and prevention can also be compromised by poor adherence and non-disclosed off-study antiretroviral drug use. This report describes the development and validation of a high throughput, qualitative method for the identification of antiretroviral drugs using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for the retrospective assessment of off-study antiretroviral drug use and the determination of potential antiretroviral therapy (ART) non-compliance. METHODS Serum standards were prepared that contained 15 antiretroviral drugs: 9 protease inhibitors (PIs), 4 nucleotide/nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), and 2 non-nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Analytical separation was achieved on a Hypersil Gold PFP (100×3mm) column and the eluent was analyzed using the Thermo Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer (Exactive-MS) operated in full scan mode. Limit of identification, signal intensity precision, retention time analysis, selectivity, and carryover studies were conducted. Concordance with liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) methods was evaluated using remnant plasma samples from a clinical trial. RESULTS The limit of identification ranged from 5 to 10ng/ml for 14 drugs (9 PIs, 1 NNRTI, 4 NRTIs) and was 150ng/ml for 1 NNRTI. Precision studies with high and low control mixtures revealed signal intensity coefficients of variation of 3.0-27.5%. The Exactive-MS method was selective for the compounds of interest. Overall, concordance ranged from 89.1% to 100% for the screening of antiretroviral drugs in clinical plasma specimens as compared to LC-MS/MS methods. CONCLUSION Using the Exactive-MS, we developed and validated a highly selective, robust method for the multiplexed detection of 15 antiretroviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Marzinke
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Medicine, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Autumn Breaud
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Teresa L Parsons
- Department of Medicine, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Myron S Cohen
- Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Estelle Piwowar-Manning
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susan H Eshleman
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William Clarke
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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