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Published in: Forensic Toxicology 2/2022

17-03-2022 | Cannabinoid | Short Communication

Quantification of MDMB-4en-PINACA and ADB-BUTINACA in human hair by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Authors: Yue Wang, Yefei Pan, Hongkun Yang, Jinlei Liu, Amin Wurita, Koutaro Hasegawa

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 2/2022

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Abstract

Purpose

To test synthetic cannabinoid (SCs) in parent forms from living human, the hairs seems to be one of the best samples, because of the non-invasiveness upon their collection. The purpose of this study is to establish a method for quantification of MDMB-4en-PINACA and ADB-BUTINACA, the most recently abused SCs in hair samples, using gas chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (GC−MS/MS).

Methods

The collected hair samples were washed with a detergent solution, following by water and acetone. After drying cutting them into about 2 mm sections, they were ground by a cryogenic grinder into powder. The 50-mg powder with internal standard(s) plus 1 mL methanol were vortexed, and centrifuged to obtain the supernatant layer. After its evaporation and reconstitution with 50 µL methanol, 1-µL aliquot of it was subjected to analysis.

Results

The standard calibration curves were created for both MDMB-4en-PINACA and ADB-BUTINACA in blank hair samples; good linear curves were obtained in the range of 20–20,000 pg/mg with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. The limits of detection and limits of quantification were 10 and 20 pg/mg, respectively. Other validation parameters were all satisfactory. The concentrations of MDMB-4en-PINACA obtained from 3 authentic subjects and ADB-BUTINACA obtained from 3 authentic subjects were 26.2–806 pg/mg and 63.1–430 pg/mg, respectively.

Conclusions

In the present article, the details of simple and rapid quantification of MDMB-4en-PINACA and ADB-BUTINACA in human scalp hair have been established. To our knowledge, this is the first report for quantification of SCs in hair samples by GC−MS/MS.
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Metadata
Title
Quantification of MDMB-4en-PINACA and ADB-BUTINACA in human hair by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors
Yue Wang
Yefei Pan
Hongkun Yang
Jinlei Liu
Amin Wurita
Koutaro Hasegawa
Publication date
17-03-2022
Publisher
Springer Nature Singapore
Keyword
Cannabinoid
Published in
Forensic Toxicology / Issue 2/2022
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-022-00615-z

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