The first LC-MS/MS stereoselective bioanalytical methods to quantitatevely detect 9R- and 9S-hexahydrocannabinols and their metabolites in human blood, oral fluid and urine

Abstract

A sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of the (9R)- and (9S)- hexahydrocannabinols (HHCs), and their metabolites, in human urine, oral fluid (OF) and blood samples were developed, validated and used to the biological samples of volunteers. The analytes were extracted from 100µL human samples. An isocratic elution mode with methanol was used for chromatographic separation of (9R)- and (9S)-HHC on an immobilized amylose tris(3-chloro-5-methylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral column Lux i-Amylose-3. The flow-rate of the mobile phase was 0.5mL/min. An isocratic elution mode of methanol and water (80/20, v/v) was used for chromatographic separation of metabolites of (9R)- and (9S)-HHC on a Lux AMP chiral column (with a proprietary chiral selector) at a flow rate of 0.5mL/min. MS/MS analysis was performed in positive ionization mode for HHC epimers, while in negative ionization mode was used for metabolites of HHCs. The calibration curves for HHCs and their metabolites in human samples ranged from 0.25- 240ngmL-1 and 1 - 100ngmL-1, respectively, with determination coefficients (r2) of ≥ 0.99. All analytes were stable at room temperature, 4 °C, in the autosampler (+10°C) and −20 °C for 24h, after three freeze/thaw cycles, and when stored at −20 °C up to one week after quality control (QC) sample preparation (concentration differences less than 20% with respect to time zero response), in blood, urine and OF.