title: LC-MS/MS and volumetric absorptive microsampling for quantitative bioanalysis of cathinone analogues in dried urine, plasma and oral fluid samples.
abstract: In the last few years, several cathinone analogues have appeared on the illicit drug market and proposed as an alternative to already known stimulants in several recreational settings. The World Anti-Doping Agency classified the synthetic cathinones in the Prohibited List as specified stimulants, banned in sport competitions. We developed and validated an LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of methylone, ethylone, butylone, mephedrone, 4-methylethcathinone and 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone in dried urine, plasma and oral fluid samples. Volumetric absorptive microsampling has been employed as a miniaturised sampling technique for collecting dried biological samples. Chromatographic analysis was carried out on a C18 reversed phase column with a mobile phase composed of formic acid in a water/acetonitrile mixture, by using a triple quadrupole mass analyzer. The main parameters of the volumetric absorptive microsampling procedure were investigated and the method was fully validated with satisfactory results in terms of linearity, precision, absolute recovery, matrix effects, selectivity and stability. The method was successfully applied to real samples collected from cathinones users. The biosampling strategy via volumetric absorptive microsampling for urine, plasma and oral fluid could provide reliable information, with a future perspective of implementation for forensic cases as well as for sport drug testing.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaco-Toxicological Analysis, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: laura.mercolini@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mercolini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaco-Toxicological Analysis, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Protti
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaco-Toxicological Analysis, Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBiT), Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Catapano
authors.affiliation: Neoteryx LLC, 421 Amapola Avenue, 90501 Torrance, CA, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rudge
authors.affiliation: Sport Medicine, Enna Local Health Unit, Viale A. Diaz 7, 94100 Enna, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Sberna
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing / Q000379:methods; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000652:urine; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D013287:Illicit Drugs; C023665:cathinone
keywords: Cathinone analogues; Dried biological matrices; LC–MS/MS; Quantitative bioanalysis; Volumetric absorptive microsampling