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Lanza M, Acton WJ, Sulzer P, Breiev K, Jürschik S, Jordan A, Hartungen E, Hanel G, Märk L, Märk TD, Mayhew CA. Selective reagent ionisation-time of flight-mass spectrometry: a rapid technology for the novel analysis of blends of new psychoactive substances. J Mass Spectrom 2015; 50:427-31. [PMID: 25800025 DOI: 10.1002/jms.3514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
In this study we demonstrate the potential of selective reagent ionisation-time of flight-mass spectrometry for the rapid and selective identification of a popular new psychoactive substance blend called 'synthacaine', a mixture that is supposed to imitate the sensory and intoxicating effects of cocaine. Reactions with H3O(+) result in protonated parent molecules which can be tentatively assigned to benzocaine and methiopropamine. However, by comparing the product ion branching ratios obtained at two reduced electric field values (90 and 170 Td) for two reagent ions (H3O(+) and NO(+)) to those of the pure chemicals, we show that identification is possible with a much higher level of confidence then when relying solely on the m/z of protonated parent molecules. A rapid and highly selective analytical identification of the constituents of a recreational drug is particularly crucial to medical personnel for the prompt medical treatment of overdoses, toxic effects or allergic reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Lanza
- IONICON Analytik GmbH., Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria; Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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Acton WJ, Lanza M, Agarwal B, Jürschik S, Sulzer P, Breiev K, Jordan A, Hartungen E, Hanel G, Märk L, Mayhew CA, Märk TD. Headspace analysis of new psychoactive substances using a Selective Reagent Ionisation-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometer. Int J Mass Spectrom 2014; 360:28-38. [PMID: 25844048 PMCID: PMC4375562 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijms.2013.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/13/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The rapid expansion in the number and use of new psychoactive substances presents a significant analytical challenge because highly sensitive instrumentation capable of detecting a broad range of chemical compounds in real-time with a low rate of false positives is required. A Selective Reagent Ionisation-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry (SRI-ToF-MS) instrument is capable of meeting all of these requirements. With its high mass resolution (up to m/Δm of 8000), the application of variations in reduced electric field strength (E/N) and use of different reagent ions, the ambiguity of a nominal (monoisotopic) m/z is reduced and hence the identification of chemicals in a complex chemical environment with a high level of confidence is enabled. In this study we report the use of a SRI-ToF-MS instrument to investigate the reactions of H3O+, O2+, NO+ and Kr+ with 10 readily available (at the time of purchase) new psychoactive substances, namely 4-fluoroamphetamine, methiopropamine, ethcathinone, 4-methylethcathinone, N-ethylbuphedrone, ethylphenidate, 5-MeO-DALT, dimethocaine, 5-(2-aminopropyl)benzofuran and nitracaine. In particular, the dependence of product ion branching ratios on the reduced electric field strength for all reagent ions was investigated and is reported here. The results reported represent a significant amount of new data which will be of use for the development of drug detection techniques suitable for real world scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Joe Acton
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YQ Lancaster, UK
| | - Matteo Lanza
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Bishu Agarwal
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Simone Jürschik
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Philipp Sulzer
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +43 512 214 800 050; fax: +43 512 214 800 099.
| | - Kostiantyn Breiev
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alfons Jordan
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eugen Hartungen
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gernot Hanel
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Lukas Märk
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Chris A. Mayhew
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Tilmann D. Märk
- IONICON Analytik GmbH, Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institut für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik, Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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Lanza M, Acton WJ, Jürschik S, Sulzer P, Breiev K, Jordan A, Hartungen E, Hanel G, Märk L, Mayhew CA, Märk TD. Distinguishing two isomeric mephedrone substitutes with selective reagent ionisation mass spectrometry (SRI-MS). J Mass Spectrom 2013; 48:1015-8. [PMID: 24078242 DOI: 10.1002/jms.3253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2013] [Revised: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The isomers 4-methylethcathinone and N-ethylbuphedrone are substitutes for the recently banned drug mephedrone. We find that with conventional proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), it is not possible to distinguish between these two isomers, because essentially for both substances, only the protonated molecules are observed at a mass-to-charge ratio of 192 (C12 H18NO(+)). However, when utilising an advanced PTR-MS instrument that allows us to switch the reagent ions (selective reagent ionisation) from H3O(+) (which is commonly used in PTR-MS) to NO(+), O2(+) and Kr(+), characteristic product (fragment) ions are detected: C4H10N(+) (72 Da) for 4-methylethcathinone and C5 H12N(+) (86 Da) for N-ethylbuphedrone; thus, selective reagent ionisation MS proves to be a powerful tool for fast detection and identification of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Lanza
- IONICON Analytik GmbH., Eduard-Bodem-Gasse 3, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
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Abstract
Abstract
Four assay procedures for tobramycin in serum--enzyme immunoassay (I), substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay (II), radioimmunoassay (III), and bioassay (IV)--were compared and evaluated by replicate and analytical recovery studies. I and II were about 50% more precise than III and IV. II was substantially more nearly accurate than the other methods and also gave the best reproducibility (correlation coefficient 0.992 between-day). The least expensive method was IV. Ease of handling favored I and II. Overall, we find II to be the most acceptable procedure for use in the clinical laboratory.
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Acton WJ, Van Duyn OM, Allen LV, Flournoy DJ. Evaluation of four assay methods for determination of tobramycin in human serum. Clin Chem 1982; 28:177-80. [PMID: 7035000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Four assay procedures for tobramycin in serum--enzyme immunoassay (I), substrate-labeled fluorescent immunoassay (II), radioimmunoassay (III), and bioassay (IV)--were compared and evaluated by replicate and analytical recovery studies. I and II were about 50% more precise than III and IV. II was substantially more nearly accurate than the other methods and also gave the best reproducibility (correlation coefficient 0.992 between-day). The least expensive method was IV. Ease of handling favored I and II. Overall, we find II to be the most acceptable procedure for use in the clinical laboratory.
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