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. 2015 Sep 1:142:190-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2015.04.044. Epub 2015 Apr 24.

Rapid analysis of synthetic cannabinoids using a miniature mass spectrometer with ambient ionization capability

Qiang Ma  1 , Hua Bai  2 , Wentao Li  2 , Chao Wang  2 , R Graham Cooks  3 , Zheng Ouyang  4
Affiliations

Rapid analysis of synthetic cannabinoids using a miniature mass spectrometer with ambient ionization capability

Qiang Ma et al. Talanta. .

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoids are an emerging class of drugs of abuse and are of a great concern for transport control and usage regulation. In this study, we have developed rapid analytical methods using a miniature mass spectrometer for the identification of synthetic cannabinoids, as the traces of bulk powders on surfaces or substances in blood and urine. Significantly simplified work flows were developed by employing two ambient ionization methods, the paper spray and extraction spray ionization. Using five synthetic cannabinoids as examples, a limit of detection of 2 ng was estimated for the detection of trace powders on a bench surface and limits of quantitation as good as 10 ng/mL were obtained for the analysis of blood and urine samples.

Keywords: Ambient ionization; Biofluids; Drug of abuse; Extraction spray; Paper spray; Tandem mass spectrometry.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a) Paper spray ionization, extraction spray ionization, and b) Mini 12 desktop ion trap mass spectrometer for the identification of synthetic cannabinoids
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Chemical structures of the studied synthetic cannabinoids, which can be broken down into four main parts: the core and substituents, the link section, the ring and substituents, and the tail section
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
MS/MS spectra and proposed fragmentation pathways for a) JWH-018 and b) XLR-11
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
a) Procedure for Swift-type sample collection from surfaces followed by paper spray ionization for MS analysis. b) MS spectrum for analysis of synthetic cannabinoids spread on a bench surface at a density of 20 ng/cm2. Corresponding MS/MS spectra for c) JWH-081 d) AM-2201 and e) RCS-4
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
MS/MS spectra for analysis of (a) JWH-018 in whole bovine blood, (b) JWH-081 in urine, (c) AM-2201 in blood, (d) RCS-4 in urine, (e) XLR-11 in methanol, each at 50 ng/mL, with extraction spray ionization and Mini 12. (f) Calibration curve for the analysis of JWH-018 in bovine blood samples, MS/MS transition m/z 342 to 155 for JWH-018, and m/z 353 to 155 for internal standard JWH-018-d11
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