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Forensic Toxicology

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Open Access 01-07-2021 | Intoxication | Original Article

Quantification and distribution of 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl (4-FiBF) in postmortem biological samples using UHPLC–QqQ-MS/MS

Authors: Marcin Zawadzki, Olga Wachełko, Agnieszka Chłopaś-Konowałek, Paweł Szpot

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 2/2021

Abstract

Purpose

Development of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method for quantification of 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl (4-FiBF) and its distribution in postmortem biological samples in four fatal intoxication cases, which occurred in September 2018, in Poland.

Methods

Biological fluids (blood, urine, vitreous humor, bile, gastric content) and tissues (brain, kidney, liver, stomach wall) were extracted with ethyl acetate from alkaline medium (pH 9). Fentanyl-d₅ was used as internal standard.

Results

The validation parameters were as follows: lower limit of quantification: 0.1 ng/mL (biological fluids) and 0.1 ng/g (solid tissues), intra- and inter-day accuracies and precisions: not greater than 20%; recovery values: 86.9–110%; matrix effect: − 13.1–10.4%. Among all tested biological fluid, the highest concentration of 4-FiBF was found in bile (average concentration of 3390 ng/mL) while among the tissues, in liver (average concentration of 1650 ng/g). Furthermore, in collected specimens, there were also found other drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS) e.g. N-ethylpentylon, 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) and α-pyrrolidinoisohexanophenone (α-PiHP). Concentrations and distributions of these substances in postmortem samples have been also detailed. Examinations of seized drug (in case 4) revealed that it included the mix of 4-FiBF and α-PiHP.

Conclusions

The developed and fully validated method enabled for determination of 4-FiBF in postmortem biological fluids and tissues. To our knowledge, this is the first report of distribution study of 4-FiBF with other NPS (N-ethylpentylon, 4-CMC and α-PiHP) in authentic fatal intoxication cases.

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Title: Quantification and distribution of 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl (4-FiBF) in postmortem biological samples using UHPLC–QqQ-MS/MS
Authors: Marcin Zawadzki
Olga Wachełko
Agnieszka Chłopaś-Konowałek
Paweł Szpot
Publication date: 01-07-2021
Publisher: Springer Singapore
Keywords: Intoxication
Fentanyl
Published in: Forensic Toxicology / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-021-00584-9

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Quantification and distribution of 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl (4-FiBF) in postmortem biological samples using UHPLC–QqQ-MS/MS

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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