UHPLC-HRMS and GC-MS Screening of a Selection of Synthetic Cannabinoids and Metabolites in Urine of Consumers.

Esther Papaseit,Simona Zaami,Manuela Pellegrini,Magí Farré,Emilia Marchei

doi:10.3390/medicina56080408

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The use of synthetic cannabinoids has increased around the world. As a result, the implementation of accurate analysis in human biological matrices is relevant and fundamental. Two different analytical technologies, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) and high-sensitivity gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used for the determination of three synthetic cannabinoids JWH-122, JWH 210, UR-144 and their metabolites in urine of consumers. Materials and Methods: Sample preparation included an initial hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase and liquid-liquid extraction. The UHPLC-HRMS method included a Kinetex 2.6 u Biphenyl 100A (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.6 μm) (Phenomenex, Italy) column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of mobile phase A (ammonium formate 2mM in water, 0.1% formic acid) and mobile phase B (ammonium formate 2mM in methanol/acetonitrile 50:50 (v/v), 0.1% formic acid) and a full-scan data-dependent MS2 (ddMS2) mode was used (mass range 100–1000 m/z). The GC-MS method employed an ultra-Inert Intuvo GC column (HP-5MS UI, 30 m × 250 µm i.d, film thickness 0.25 µm; Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) and electron-impact (EI) mass spectra were recorded in total ion monitoring mode (scan range 40–550 m/z). Results: Both methods have been successfully used for screening of parent synthetic cannabinoids and their metabolites in urine samples of consumers. Conclusions: The screening method applied JWH-122, JWH-210, UR-144 and their metabolites in urine of consumers can be applied to other compounds of the JWH family.

Highlights

Over the last few years, synthetic cannabinoids, called synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, have been introduced on the illicit market to evade psychotropic drugs legislation and increase the onset and the duration of action of cannabis effects [1,2].Medicina 2020, 56, 408; doi:10.3390/medicina56080408 www.mdpi.com/journal/medicinaThe rapid synthesis of such compounds and their rising popularity in illegal markets have become a challenge for clinical and forensic laboratories, since the development of analytical methods cannot keep up with the rapid change of chemical structures
Similar to the other new psychoactive substances, the analytical detection of synthetic cannabinoids presents several limitations, the most important being the unavailability of adequate reference standards for parent drugs and metabolites and the lack of analytical methods to readily detect these substances in cases of intoxication and fatalities [4]
UHPLC-HRMS was applied for the determination of synthetic cannabinoids JWH-122, JWH-210

Summary

Introduction

Over the last few years, synthetic cannabinoids, called synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, have been introduced on the illicit market to evade psychotropic drugs legislation and increase the onset and the duration of action of cannabis effects [1,2].Medicina 2020, 56, 408; doi:10.3390/medicina56080408 www.mdpi.com/journal/medicinaThe rapid synthesis of such compounds and their rising popularity in illegal markets have become a challenge for clinical and forensic laboratories, since the development of analytical methods cannot keep up with the rapid change of chemical structures. Over the last few years, synthetic cannabinoids, called synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, have been introduced on the illicit market to evade psychotropic drugs legislation and increase the onset and the duration of action of cannabis effects [1,2]. Similar to the other new psychoactive substances, the analytical detection of synthetic cannabinoids presents several limitations, the most important being the unavailability of adequate reference standards for parent drugs and metabolites and the lack of analytical methods to readily detect these substances in cases of intoxication and fatalities [4]. The analytical challenge involves the large range of different compounds and/or metabolites to identify, and the variety of biological matrices to investigate including non-conventional matrices, which have gained major interest in recent years for information provided, detection window and minimal sample collection invasiveness [9].

Methods

Results

Conclusion