Evidence of new psychoactive substances by GC-MS method in urine biological samples : master's thesis

Ciljevi istraživanja: Cilj ovog eksperimentalnog istraživanja bio je kvalitativno dokazati prisutnost novih psihoaktivnih droga (NPD) u biološkim uzorcima osoba suspektnih na konzumaciju NPD GC-MS metodom, te identificirati NPD u istim uzorcima. Materijali i metode: Biološki uzorci urina i/ili krvi 52 ispitanika suspektnih na konzumaciju NPD i 46 kupljenih referentnih standarda NPD ekstrahirani su na različitim nosačima i analizirani GC-MS metodom istovremenim snimanjem ukupnog ionskog kromatograma u području m/z vrijednosti od 40 do 600, s optimiranim temperaturnim programom za određivanje NPD u biološkim uzorcima, u kemijsko-toksikološkom laboratoriju Kliničkog odjela za sudsku medicinu, Kliničkog zavoda za patologiju, sudsku medicinu i citologiju, Kliničkog bolničkog centra u Splitu. Pikovi kromatograma bioloških uzoraka uspoređivani su s retencijskim vremenom i omjerom masa i naboja analiziranih referentnih standarda NPD. Analizirana je podudarnost karakterističnih signala kromatograma bioloških uzoraka s bazama spektara DD2015, PMW_tox3, SWGDRUG3, SWGDRUG4 i SWGDRUG5 i raspoloživom literaturom. Rezultati: Dokazana je prisutnost metedrona u uzorku urina Ispitanika br. 43, a vjerojatno je isti konzumirao i α- PVP, što se ne može sa sigurnošću tvrditi s obzirom na nedostatak referentnog standarda. Ispitanici su vjerojatno konzumirali i druge NPD, ali njihovu prisutnost teško je dokazati zbog nedostatka raspoloživih referentnih standarda NPD. Zaključak: Zbog sve većeg priljeva velikog broja NPD na tržište droga, trud uložen u otkrivanje NPD u biološkim uzorcima nesrazmjeran je rezultatima. Potrebno je razvijanje specifičnijih, bržih i jeftinijih metoda za otkrivanje NPD u biološkim uzorcima.Objectives:Aim of this experimental study was qualitative determination of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in biological samples by GC-MS method collected from subjects suspected of NPS consumption, as well as identification of NPS in those samples. Materials and methods: Biological samples of urine and/or blood collected from 52 subjects suspected of NPS consumption as well as 46 bought NPS reference standards were extracted on different carriers and analyzed by GC-MS, at toxicology laboratory of Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Centre Split. Analysis was performed by a method that simultaneously records total ion chromatogram in the area of 40-600 m/z, with optimized temperature program for NPS determination in biological samples. Chromatogram peaks of biological samples were compared to the retention times and mass and charge ratios of NPD reference standards. Characteristic signals of chromatograms of biological samples were compared to DD2015, PMW_tox3, SWGDRUG3, SWGDRUG4 and SWGDRUG5 spectral databases as well as the available literature. Results: Methedrone was detected in a urine sample collected from Subject No. 43 raising suspicion that the subject has also consumed α-PVP. However, as there is no reference standard for α-PVP, the consumption could not be confirmed. Subjects probably consumed other NPS, but it is difficult to detect them due to the lack of available NPS reference standards. Conclusion: Due to the increasing influx of numerous NPS on illicit market, efforts invested in NPS detection in biological samples are disproportionate to the results. There is a need for development of more specific, inexpensive and faster methods for NPS detection in biological samples