Abstract
The analysis of psychoactive substances in hair is of great importance for both clinical and forensic toxicologists since it allows one to evaluate past and continuative exposure to xenobiotics. In particular, a new challenge is represented by new psychoactive substances: Among this new class of drugs of abuse, synthetic cathinone and phenethylamine derivatives are often detected in biological samples. Hence, there is a growing need to develop new analytical procedures or improve old ones in order to conduct evaluations of these emerging substances. This study is a systematic review of all the instrumental and experimental data available in the literature. A total of 32 articles were included in the review. Acidic solvents proved to be the most reliable solutions for extraction. Gas chromatography and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometric and high-resolution mass spectrometric systems represent the majority of the involved instrumental techniques. Sensitivity must be maintained at the pg/mg level to detect any occurrences up to occasional consumption. In total, 23 out of 32 articles reported real positive samples. The most frequently detected substance in hair was mephedrone, followed by butylone, methylone, MDPV, and α-pyrrolidinophenone-type substances.
Highlights
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a growing concern worldwide today
830 new substances are currently being monitored by the European Monitoring Centre for
We report a review of the existing literature on new synthetic cathinone and phenylethylamine analysis in the keratin matrix, by focusing on the different preanalytical and instrumental approaches, as well as on the different substances detected and quantitated in hair
Summary
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are a growing concern worldwide today. Over830 new substances are currently being monitored by the European Monitoring Centre forDrugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) [1]. The chemical diversity of synthesized NPS reflects entrepreneurial mechanisms and attempts to circumvent legislative control [2]. Among this huge pool of substances (synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, ketamine-derivatives, phenethylamines, piperazines, new designer benzodiazepines, plantbased substances, and other ring-substituted substances), cathinone derivatives, synthetic cannabinoids, and synthetic opioids are among the most commonly encountered species [3]: The first ones, in particular, represent the major class of NPS on the recreational drug market [4], with relevant considerations to be made because they are known to potentially be much more potent than their analogues [5]. Hair has been proposed and is currently under evaluation as a potential alternative/complementary matrix in doping control tests [6]
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