Drugs of abuse analysis has several important applications that can impact both forensic science and basic research. One of the most critical choices in this field is that of a suitable matrix for specimen collection. Urine is very attractive in terms of feasibility, but also not significant for the assessment of actual intoxication. Blood is the most obvious matrix for this purpose, however its sampling is not always possible and is invasive; moreover, blood is subject to degradation and needs to be stored in controlled conditions. Several alternative and innovative matrices are now emerging for drugs of abuse testing: saliva, hair (from different body districts) and dried blood spots (DBS). DBS testing, in particular, is very promising as a possible alternative to blood, being equally significant but much easier to obtain and to store. In the Laboratory of Pharmaco-Toxicological Analysis several methodologies have been implemented for drugs of abuse analysis, with good results, using the DBS technique coupled to LC-F for the monitoring of cocaine intake and of concomitant alcohol consumption. Assays are in progress to apply the DBS testing coupled to LC-MS/MS also to the determination of amphetamines and opioids. Other methods have been developed for the analysis of cocaine and cannabinoids in head, pubic and armpit hairs and to saliva. The sample pre-treatment procedure is also very important, heavily influencing the reliability of analytical data. Very promising results have been obtained by MEPS (microextraction by packed solvent), a procedure that can use significantly lower volumes of sample and solvents than SPE and is also much faster, anyway providing sound results. MEPS procedure coupled to spectrofluorimetric detection has demonstrated to be quite efficient in terms of sample clean-up and extraction yields. Assays are currently in progress, in order to fully validate these methods for application in different environments, such as “on street” for the monitoring of subjects suspected of driving under the influence of psychotropic substances.

Innovative biological matrices and original sample pre-treatments for drugs of abuse analysis

MERCOLINI, LAURA;MANDRIOLI, ROBERTO;RAGGI, MARIA AUGUSTA
2011

Abstract

Drugs of abuse analysis has several important applications that can impact both forensic science and basic research. One of the most critical choices in this field is that of a suitable matrix for specimen collection. Urine is very attractive in terms of feasibility, but also not significant for the assessment of actual intoxication. Blood is the most obvious matrix for this purpose, however its sampling is not always possible and is invasive; moreover, blood is subject to degradation and needs to be stored in controlled conditions. Several alternative and innovative matrices are now emerging for drugs of abuse testing: saliva, hair (from different body districts) and dried blood spots (DBS). DBS testing, in particular, is very promising as a possible alternative to blood, being equally significant but much easier to obtain and to store. In the Laboratory of Pharmaco-Toxicological Analysis several methodologies have been implemented for drugs of abuse analysis, with good results, using the DBS technique coupled to LC-F for the monitoring of cocaine intake and of concomitant alcohol consumption. Assays are in progress to apply the DBS testing coupled to LC-MS/MS also to the determination of amphetamines and opioids. Other methods have been developed for the analysis of cocaine and cannabinoids in head, pubic and armpit hairs and to saliva. The sample pre-treatment procedure is also very important, heavily influencing the reliability of analytical data. Very promising results have been obtained by MEPS (microextraction by packed solvent), a procedure that can use significantly lower volumes of sample and solvents than SPE and is also much faster, anyway providing sound results. MEPS procedure coupled to spectrofluorimetric detection has demonstrated to be quite efficient in terms of sample clean-up and extraction yields. Assays are currently in progress, in order to fully validate these methods for application in different environments, such as “on street” for the monitoring of subjects suspected of driving under the influence of psychotropic substances.
2011
Proceedings of RDPA 2011 - 14th International Meeting "Recent Developments in Pharmaceutical Analysis"
OC-15
OC-15
L. Mercolini; R. Mandrioli; G. Serpelloni; M.A. Raggi
File in questo prodotto:
Eventuali allegati, non sono esposti

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/108874
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact