Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Carlos A. Valdez
Summary: The misuse of synthetic opioids belonging to the fentanyl class has raised serious safety concerns, prompting efforts worldwide to find effective solutions. Key research areas include controlling production and distribution, developing detection methods, and finding efficient antidotes. The review article summarizes the current literature on the detection and identification of synthetic opioids using GC-MS methods.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Alexandra Evans, Michael Krause, Samantha Leach, Morgan Levitas, Lucy Nguyen, Luke C. Short
Summary: This study conducted an analysis of drug residue from used needle-exchange syringes in Washington, D.C. to understand the illicit drug supply and consumption trends. Fentanyl was the most detected controlled dangerous substance, with heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine following. The study also identified novel substances like methamphetamine, synthetic cathinones, and synthetic cannabinoids for the first time in used syringes in D.C.
FORENSIC SCIENCE INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Michael Specka, Thomas Kuhlmann, Udo Bonnet, Juergen Sawazki, Luzia Schaaf, Stefan Kuehnhold, Renate Steinert, Torsten Grigoleit, Helmut Eich, Benita Zeiske, Antje Niedersteberg, Katharina Steiner, Fabrizio Schifano, Norbert Scherbaum
Summary: NSO and opioid analgesics do not play a significant role in the development and course of opioid use disorders in German patients undergoing inpatient detoxification treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Bing Lyu, Xiaoyan Zhang, Jingguang Li, Lei Zhang, Yuxin Zhong, Yongning Wu
Summary: The present study evaluated two GC-MS/MS instruments with different ion sources for detecting trace levels of PCDD/Fs in various foods. The GC-MS/MS methods showed good sensitivity, repeatability, and reproducibility, and the results were comparable to those obtained with GC-HRMS.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tsuyoshi Kawakami, Shinobu Sakai, Tomoko Obama, Reiji Kubota, Kaoru Inoue, Yoshiaki Ikarashi
Summary: This study investigates the concentrations of rubber additives and related chemicals in rubber infills used in synthetic turf fields in Japan. The analysis found variations in the types and concentrations of compounds detected between different products and within the same product. Elution tests showed that compound elution rates varied and were affected by coatings, with most compounds having low elution rates.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Deyber Arley Vargas Medina, Edvaldo Vasconcelos Soares Maciel, Natalia Gabrielly Pereira dos Santos, Fernando Mauro Lancas
Summary: Targeted and untargeted analysis are important methods in omics sciences. GC-MS is commonly used for volatile and thermally stable compounds, while LC-MS is used for compounds that cannot be analyzed by GC without chemical derivatization. Researchers are working on bridging the gap between LC and GC-MS techniques.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Marthe M. Vandeputte, Mattias Persson, Donna Walther, Svante Vikingsson, Robert Kronstrand, Michael H. Baumann, Henrik Green, Christophe P. Stove
Summary: This study evaluated the pharmacology of seven poorly characterized non-fentanyl new synthetic opioids (NSOs). The results showed that ketobemidone and N-ethyl-U-47700 were the most active compounds, while most of the other NSOs had weak activation of MOR. These findings contribute to estimating the harm potential of newly emerging drugs.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Susan M. M. Cibulsky, Timo Wille, Renee Funk, Danny Sokolowski, Christine Gagnon, Marc Lafontaine, Carol Brevett, Rabih Jabbour, Jessica Cox, David R. R. Russell, David A. A. Jett, Jerry D. D. Thomas, Lewis S. S. Nelson
Summary: The large amounts of opioids and the emergence of increasingly potent illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids are not only causing a public health crisis of overdose deaths, but also raising the risk of deliberate opioid release with the intention to cause mass harm. Awareness of the risk, preparedness to respond, and coordinated planning are required to save lives and reduce illness. Rapid recognition of opioid toxidrome, education on personal protective actions, and training in medical management are key components of preparedness for an opioid mass casualty incident.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Alessandra Manca, Amedeo De Nicolo, Elisa Delia De Vivo, Micol Ferrara, Sharon Oh, Sahar Khalili, Niamh Higgins, Robert G. Deiss, Stefano Bonora, Jessica Cusato, Alice Palermiti, Jacopo Mula, Sara Gianella, Antonio D'Avolio
Summary: This study developed an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method for the simultaneous quantification of opioids in various tissues. Higher concentrations of opioids were observed in tissues compared to plasma, with kidney and liver showing the highest concentrations. The method proved to be suitable for pharmacological/toxicological studies using post-mortem specimens.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emmanouil D. Tsochatzis, Joao Alberto Lopes, Margaret V. Holland, Fabiano Reniero, Giovanni Palmieri, Claude Guillou
Summary: The study presents an analytical approach to identify and structurally elucidate a novel synthetic cannabimimetic, also discovering an acid precursor in the same seized material. Various analytical techniques including GC-MS, NMR, HR-MS/MS, and a cheminformatics platform were used for characterization and data interpretation.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Aviv Amirav, Benny Neumark, Ksenia J. Margolin Eren, Alexander B. Fialkov, Noam Tal
Summary: The full content of cannabis extracts and products was analyzed using GC-MS with Cold EI, identifying over 50 cannabinoid compounds including new ones with Cold EI mass spectra similar to delta 9-THC. The analysis also revealed impurities and the process of oxidized CBD formation.
JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Yi Li, Long Guo, Zhiqin Zhou
Summary: Limonin-loaded eugenol emulsion (EuLm) demonstrates disruptive activity against Penicillium italicum, affecting the fungal membrane structure and intracellular substance metabolism. The study reveals that EuLm treatment disrupts fungal cell membrane, mitochondrial membrane potential, ergosterol synthesis, and decreases total lipids, cell proteins, total sugars. Metabolomics analysis indicates that EuLm interferes with fungal metabolic pathways and leads to a decline in various metabolites.
POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Vera L. Alves, Joao L. Goncalves, Joselin Aguiar, Maria J. Caldeira, Helena M. Teixeira, Jose S. Camara
Summary: The prevalence of synthetic cannabinoids as new psychoactive substances among drug users is a global public health concern. These compounds are commonly found in herbal incenses and are often masked or adulterated. Integration of gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance data can be effective in identifying and confirming the presence of synthetic cannabinoids in these mixtures.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Substance Abuse
R. Francois Lamy, Raminta Daniulaityte, J. Monica Barratt, Usha Lokala, Amit Sheth, G. Robert Carlson
Summary: This study collected a large amount of opioid-related listings data on the EmpireMarket, identifying 17 novel non-fentanyl synthetic opioids. These substances had an average availability of 9.2 kg per data point. Some items were advertised as shipped from China.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Amber N. Edinoff, David Martinez Garza, Stephen P. Vining, Megan E. Vasterling, Eric D. Jackson, Kevin S. Murnane, Adam M. Kaye, Richard N. Fair, Yair Jose Lopez Torres, Ahmed E. Badr, Elyse M. Cornett, Alan D. Kaye
Summary: Since the early 2010s, synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, have played a significant role in the opioid crisis, leading to a sharp increase in overdose deaths. Other synthetic opioids like carfentanil, protonitazene, and isotonitazene have also become more widely misused. These new synthetic opioids present clinical challenges and there is a lack of complete data on their prevalence.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Caitlyn Norman, Gillian Walker, Brian McKirdy, Ciara McDonald, Daniel Fletcher, Lysbeth H. Antonides, Oliver B. Sutcliffe, Niamh Nic Daeid, Craig McKenzie
DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS
(2020)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lysbeth H. Antonides, Annelies Cannaert, Caitlyn Norman, Niamh NicDaeid, Oliver B. Sutcliffe, Christophe P. Stove, Craig McKenzie
Summary: Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) primarily act through human type-1 cannabinoid (CB1) receptors. The study analyzed enantiomer pairs of SCRA samples seized in Scottish prisons and found that (S)-enantiomers are more potent and efficacious than (R)-enantiomers. The importance of SCRA-CB1 receptor interactions and the impact of the chiral tert-leucinate group on potency were highlighted.
DRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Thomas B. R. Robertson, Nicolas Gilbert, Oliver B. Sutcliffe, Ryan E. Mewis
Summary: Mirfentanil, a fentanyl derivative, is hyperpolarised via SABRE using [Ir(IMes)(COD)Cl] as the polarisation transfer catalyst. The formation of complex [Ir(IMes)(H)(2)(mirfentanil)(2)(MeOH)](+) is proposed based on observed hydrides. Even at low concentrations, Mirfentanil can be detected with significant signal enhancement.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matthew C. Hulme, Armita Hayatbakhsh, Rachel M. Brignall, Nicolas Gilbert, Andrew Costello, Christopher J. Schofield, David C. Williamson, E. Kate Kemsley, Oliver B. Sutcliffe, Ryan E. Mewis
Summary: The study demonstrates the use of benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for rapid detection and identification of drug derivatives, particularly for newly encountered substances. NMR method offers faster and more discriminatory analysis compared to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), making it suitable for law enforcement and healthcare applications.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ryan E. Mewis
MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas B. R. Robertson, Leon J. Clarke, Ryan E. Mewis
Summary: In recent years, the NMR hyperpolarisation method signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) has been applied to multiple substrates of potential interest for in vivo investigation. Unfortunately, SABRE commonly requires an iridium-containing catalyst that is unsuitable for biomedical applications. This report investigates the potential use of metal scavengers to remove the iridium catalytic species from the solution using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The effects of varying functionality, chain length, and scavenger support identity on iridium scavenging efficiency are analyzed. The study finds that exposure to the most promising scavenger (S-5) results in less than 1 ppm of detectable iridium by ICP-OES after 2 minutes. It is proposed that combining this approach with other recently reported methods, such as catalyst separated-SABRE (CASH-SABRE), could enable the rapid preparation of a biocompatible SABRE hyperpolarized bolus.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Nicolas Gilbert, Andrew Costello, Jamie R. Ellison, Umer Khan, Mark Knight, Michael J. Linnell, Robert Ralphs, Ryan E. Mewis, Oliver B. Sutcliffe
Summary: Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists are a constantly evolving family of illicit drugs, with novel analogues frequently being discovered. This paper reports the detection of a new N-hexyl-1H-indazole derivative, ADB-HINACA, in a herbal sample seized by law enforcement for the first time in the United Kingdom, confirming its identity through the synthesis of a pure reference standard and direct spectral comparison.
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jennifer K. Field, Christine Hinz, Christopher M. Titman, Matthew C. Hulme, Rhona M. Cowan, Jack B. Ainsworth-McMillan, Nicolas Gilbert, Robert J. Lee, Jack Marron, Andrew Costello, Ryan E. Mewis, Melvin R. Euerby, Oliver B. Sutcliffe
Summary: This study presents the development of a rapid gradient UHPLC method with targeted MS/MS for the detection and confirmation of the identity of 33 substituted diphenidine derivatives in solid drug samples. The study also investigates the influence of substituents on the elution order and the retention mechanism of diphenidines under reverse-phase UHPLC conditions. The developed method was proven to be specific through the assessment of common adulterants, and it was successfully applied to confirm the identity of psychoactive components in seized bulk samples.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Graeme Cochrane, Jennifer K. Field, Matthew C. Hulme, Nicolas Gilbert, Ryan E. Mewis, Melvin R. Euerby, Oliver B. Sutcliffe
Summary: In this study, Supercritical Fluid Chromatography (SFC-UV) was used to rapidly analyze 31 novel, regioisomeric diphenidine-derived psychoactive substances. The polarity of the stationary phases had a significant impact on the retention time and elution order of the compounds. SFC demonstrated good retention for hydrophilic compounds that were poorly retained on a C18 reverse phase column.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
David I. Dixon, Lysbeth H. Antonides, Andrew Costello, Benjamin Crane, Arran Embleton, Mark L. Fletcher, Nicolas Gilbert, Matthew C. Hulme, Molly J. James, Michael A. Lever, Conner J. Maccallum, Molly F. Millea, Jessica L. Pimlott, Thomas B. R. Robertson, Nathan E. Rudge, Christopher J. Schofield, Filip Zukowicz, E. Kate Kemsley, Oliver B. Sutcliffe, Ryan E. Mewis
Summary: In this study, three in-situ techniques, GC-MS, H-1 NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy, were used to qualitatively analyze 318 drug samples. The majority of samples consisted of a single component, with cocaine being the most prevalent. Some samples were found to be adulterated cocaine, consisting of two or more components.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS
(2022)
Letter
Chemistry, Analytical
Oliver B. Sutcliffe, Ryan E. Mewis, E. Kate Kemsley, David C. Williamson
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
David I. Dixon, Molly F. Millea, Alexander T. M. Wilcock, Andrew Costello, Jamie R. Ellison, Sacha Lord, Kim A. O'Brian, Ryan E. Mewis, Oliver B. Sutcliffe
Summary: This paper reports the detection of bk-PBDB (putylone) in solid dosage forms for the first time in the UK, confirmed by analytical profiling techniques. A validated GC-EI-MS method was developed for routine quantification of bk-PBDB in forensic samples, showing that the seized tablets contained a mixture of bk-PBDB and caffeine.
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Nicolas Gilbert, Ryan E. Mewis, Oliver B. Sutcliffe
Summary: Fluorinated fentanyl regioisomers are increasingly common in forensic casework, and this study synthesized eight fluorinated fentanyl derivatives as pure reference materials with complete spectral characterization. Various analytical techniques, including GC-MS and F-19 NMR, were used for quantification and identification of target analytes in complex samples such as heroin.
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Nicolas Gilbert, Ryan E. Mewis, Oliver B. Sutcliffe
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
(2020)
