Analysis Of Drugs In Samples Research Articles

Component analysis of illicit morphia tablets (clandestine laboratory preparation) using gas chromatography mass spectrometry: a case study

BackgroundVarious synthetic or semi-synthetic drugs like cocaine, amphetamine type stimulants (ATS), and heroin are produced and processed in clandestine laboratories. Every clan lab has its own procedures and protocols for drug synthesis and processing. A drug can be brought up in different forms like pharmaceutical tablets or raw street powder or any else, depending upon different types of adulterants or diluents and the physical modifications required for its transportation. Since a specific drug is synthesized by various clandestine laboratories, it is likely to have some differences between the two samples due to slightly different synthesis protocols used or the nature and concentration of adulterants. Detailed analysis of drug samples can determine, whether the drug belongs to common source or not. The basic purpose of alterations in physical form is to deceive the law enforcement agencies and to increase the bulk.Case presentationIn this article, a clandestine product of an altered form of a drug was analyzed and reported. Two samples of orange colored “morphia tablets” seized by law enforcement officials were submitted for chemical analysis. Both of the samples were analyzed to determine physical and chemical characteristics. In both samples, the tablets were orange in color. The average weight of a tablet was 58.24 mg for sample A, and 68.85 mg for sample B. Qualitative analysis using GC-MS showed that tablets in sample A were composed of caffeine, dextromethorphan, hydromorphone, acetylcodeine, and heroin, while the tablets in sample B were composed of caffeine, acetylcodeine, heroin, papaverine, and noscapine. The concentration of heroin in sample B was much higher than that in sample A.ConclusionThe analysis of morphia tablets showed that these tablets were an altered form of street heroin. On the basis of variation in weight, heroin concentration, impurities, and adulterants in both the samples analyzed, it can be concluded that they belonged to some different sources. Complete drug profiling for organic and inorganic components of tablets is recommended for future prospective.

Cationic nanoemulsions bearing ciprofloxacin surf-plexes enhances its therapeutic efficacy in conditions of E. coli induced peritonitis and sepsis.

Chitosan (CH) coated ciprofloxacin-sodium deoxycholate surfplex (CFn-SDC) loaded nanoemulsion (LE-CH-CFn-SDC) developed in order to improve tissue penetration of the CFn as well as to mop up the endotoxin (Lipopolysaccharides or LPS) released from bacteria during antibiotic treatment. Size and zeta potential was evaluated for nanoemulsions prepared by high-speed homogenization and sonication. Drug analysis in samples was done by HPLC equipped with fluorescence detector. All formulations were evaluated for any change in LPS induced NO and TNF-α release and ROS generation in J774 macrophages. The formulations were also evaluated for in-vitro killing efficiency on E-Coli. The efficacy of formulations in terms of survival and pharmacokinetics and inhibition of induction of cytokines was carried out in E-coli induced peritonitis model in rats. LE-CH-CFn-SDC interacted with LPS both by electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. LE-CH-CFn-SDC resulted in reduction of endotoxin release and MIC values for E. coli. LE-CH-CFn-SDC also reduced NO and TNF-α as well as ROS generation by reducing the uptake of LPS in J774 macrophages. LE-CH-CFn-SDC improved CFn pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution, by reducing the bacterial burden, LPS and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) thereby improving survival in a rat model of E. coli induced peritonitis. In conclusion, this work highlights the effectiveness of the chitosan-coated nanoemulsion as intracorporeal approach for therapeutic intervention of E. coli induced peritonitis as well as in sepsis.

Recent Advances in the Application of Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis in Forensic Chemistry

This review paper updates the previous literature in relation to the continued and developing use of stable isotope ratio analysis in samples which are relevant to forensic science. Recent advances in the analysis of drug samples, explosive materials, and samples derived from human and animal samples are discussed. The paper also aims to put the use of isotope ratio mass spectrometry into a forensic context and discuss its evidential potential.

Flow-injection spectrophotometric determination of reverse transcriptase inhibitors used for acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) treatment: Focus on strategies for dealing with the background components

This paper describes a rapid method for the quantification of reverse transcriptase inhibitors in mixtures of therapeutic interest containing zidovudine, zalcitabine and nevirapine. The method is based on a pH-gradient flow-injection system with diode array detection and further data analysis using multivariate curve resolution. Data matrices of unknown samples mixtures have been analyzed simultaneously with those of standards and background via the construction of augmented data matrices. In this case, the spectral domain has been chosen for performing column-wise (i.e., wavelength-wise) matrix augmentation. The quantification is accomplished from the comparison of the analyte peaks resolved for unknown mixtures and standards, being peak areas the quantitative information to be correlated with the concentration in both calibration and prediction steps. The influence of background signal on the response is tackled through two main strategies involving modelling or subtraction. The potentiality of this method for the analysis of drugs in the presence of unknown interferences is demonstrated. Results obtained in the analysis of drug samples have proven the excellent performance of this method. Overall prediction errors in the quantification of two- and three-component mixtures are about 5–10%.

Epidemiologic issues pertinent to international regulation of 28 stimulant-hallucinogen drugs

This paper examines selected epidemiologic issues raised by the consideration of 28 stimulant-hallucinogen drugs for international drug control. New epidemiologic evidence on these drugs is presented, based on laboratory analysis of drug samples obtained from unauthorized channels of distribution in the United States. A proposal is made for experimental evaluation of international drug controls. The proposed approach is to select some of the stimulant-hallucinogen drugs which are not currently responsible for substantial drug-related morbidity and mortality, but which appear suitable for control on the basis of presumed potential for abuse and other characteristics. Then, randomly assign one-half of this group for new drug regulations, leaving the others without new regulation. If proper epidemiologic surveillance were in place, this experimental trial would produce data to help substantiate inferences about drug control efficacy. Difficulties in implementing this proposal are discussed, with emphasis on surveillance measurement problems. Some of these problems are related to the non-medical character of much stimulant-hallucinogen drug use. However, other problems such as response inconsistency may affect research in drug epidemiology generally. Data from a recent panel study of psychotherapeutic medicine use are presented to illustrate this possibility.

Experience with Quantitative Thin-Layer Chromatography in the Analysis of Drugs in Plasma

Abstract A survey is presented concerning the possible techniques of quantitative thin-layer chromatography. Most of the possibilities mentioned have been used successfully in our laboratory for the determination of drugs and metabolites in plasma. With respect to our own experience, the advantages and disadvantages of quantitative thin-layer chromatography are discussed. Although gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography are more popular, quantitative thin-layer chromatography has a high potential in the analysis of drugs in samples of biological origin and should not be neglected in the development of an assay.