004-Mass Spec-V17
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The Diverse Applications of <strong>Mass</strong> <strong>Spec</strong>trometry<br />
“The challenge for us is in developing new methods for these<br />
emerging drugs in biological matrices which are inclusive of the<br />
pre-analytical phase, the analytical phase and the post-analytical<br />
management and interpretation of data,” says Behonick.<br />
QTOF Detects Fentanyl Analogs in Minute<br />
Quantities<br />
SCIEX’s X500R QTOF (quadrupole time-of-flight) is among<br />
the current generation of mass spectrometers that can detect<br />
fentanyl analogs in minute quantities. Introduced in 2015, the<br />
X500R uses high-resolution MS technology to detect illicit<br />
substances down to the picogram level, which can then be crossreferenced<br />
through ChemSpider, a chemical structure database.<br />
Phil Taylor, global marketing manager, food, environment<br />
and forensics for SCIEX, sees mass spectrometry technology<br />
moving from nominal mass instrumentation, such as the triple<br />
quadrupole instrumentation, to more advanced platforms that<br />
will provide a higher level of detail than previous technology.<br />
“The pursuit in forensic toxicology is accuracy,” says Taylor.<br />
“The demand from the judicial system is for accurate and concise<br />
results. That’s what’s driving the market.”<br />
Advancements in Rapid Detection of Fentanyl<br />
Analogs<br />
According to a study published in Forensic Chemistry in June<br />
2017, 10 advancements are also being made in using thermal<br />
desorption direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (TD-<br />
DART-MS) and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) as tools for<br />
the rapid and sensitive (nanogram to picograms) detection of<br />
fentanyl, 16 fentanyl analogs and five additional opioids (heroin,<br />
U-47700, buprenorphine, methadone and naloxone).<br />
TD-DART-MS is sensitive to picogram levels of a wide range<br />
of illicit drugs, reports the study by NIST researchers, noting<br />
that these instruments have potential applications in mobile<br />
laboratories, emergency vehicles and hospitals.<br />
“Current guidelines recommend an enzyme-linked<br />
immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screen for fentanyl followed by<br />
gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis,”<br />
write the study authors. “As NPF concentrations in blood can<br />
be quite low, a wipe-based technique, such as TD-DART-MS<br />
targeting solid trace contamination on the individual or their<br />
belongings, may be a more effective approach. TD-DART-MS<br />
may also be useful in emergency medicine, providing a rapid<br />
identification of the specific NPF to make informed choices<br />
about treatment.”<br />
IMS instruments are commonly used in airports, where a security<br />
officer might swab a piece of luggage or a passenger’s hands, and<br />
then insert the swab into the instrument to check for traces of<br />
explosive residue.<br />
“Currently, police officers have to handle drugs to test them,” says<br />
Edward Sisco, a research chemist at NIST and one of the lead<br />
authors of the NIST study. “But with these technologies, they<br />
can just swab the outside of the bag to test for fentanyl.” If the<br />
test comes back positive, they can take extra precautions.<br />
IMS instruments cost around $25,000 and are about the size of<br />
a microwave oven, small enough to be transported by a mobile<br />
hazmat unit. TD-DART-MS instruments, which are more<br />
sensitive but larger and more expensive, could potentially be<br />
used for screening incoming material at a forensic lab before it is<br />
handled by evidence examiners.<br />
NIST was the first to publish the IMS and TD-DART-MS<br />
signatures for the 16 fentnyl analogs tested. According to NIST,<br />
Sisco and his co-authors are speaking with IMS manufacturers<br />
about adding the newly identified signatures to their product<br />
software. 11<br />
“We hope this makes a real difference to the people who come<br />
into contact with synthetic opioids,” says Sisco. “The opioid<br />
epidemic is a huge problem. This might be one small way to try<br />
to get a handle on it.”<br />
References<br />
1. The New Wave of Designer Drugs: A Review for Criminal Justice<br />
and Forensic Professionals. Link: https://bit.ly/2JtwzWH<br />
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse; Synthetic Cannabinoids (K2/<br />
Spice). Link: https://bit.ly/2uhrZhG<br />
3. National Institute on Drug Abuse; Synthetic Cathinones (“Bath<br />
Salts”). Link: https://bit.ly/22Dcs8e<br />
4. Drug Enforcement Agency; Fentanyl FAQs. Link: https://bit.<br />
ly/2KSidMM<br />
5. National Institute on Drug Abuse; Emerging Trends and Alerts.<br />
Link: https://bit.ly/29J2oFb<br />
6. CDC; Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999–2016.<br />
Link: https://bit.ly/2pcubtA<br />
7. Comparing the Lethality and Potency of Opioid Drugs. Link:<br />
https://bit.ly/2JrDzDj<br />
8. Drug Enforcement Agency; DEA Warning to Police and Public:<br />
Fentanyl Exposure Kills. Link: https://bit.ly/1rh3kbt<br />
9. Powerful Detection Technology for Powerful New Street Drugs.<br />
Link: https://bit.ly/2iTLqtr<br />
10. E. Sisco et al., Forensic Chemistry. 4, 108–115. (2017)<br />
11. Fentanyl Can Sicken First Responders. Here’s a Possible Solution.<br />
Link: https://bit.ly/2Bpo9bj<br />
Technology Networks 2018<br />
11<br />
TechnologyNetworks.com