A novel analytical method of TFMPP and mCPP in fluids of drug addicts using LLE-GC/NPD

Abstract

In recent years, drug-abuse problem is growing by leaps and bounds all over the world. The master minds spearheading its proliferation among the youth are difficult to identify, so drug-abuse case has become a hard nut to crack even with the help of best international experts in forensic science and criminology. Because most nations have tightened their controls on traditional drugs, the younger generation is now hooked onto new-type drugs: 1-(3- trifluoromethylphenyl) piperazine (TFMPP), 1-(3-chlorophenyl) piperazine (mCPP) and other new piperazine-drugs, acting as hallucinogens like ‘ecstasy’, are being consumed by vulnerable masses all over the world. However, only few research studies have focused on developing highly effective detection methods for TFMPP and mCPP in biological fluids; the number of detection methods for these new-type drugs is almost nil in China. Therefore, it is difficult to detect and prevent drug abuse cases related to piperazine drugs in China. There is an urgent need to develop some simple, fast, and reliable methods for detecting piperazine-drugs in vulnerable masses. Thus, the development of novel detection methods with high sensitivity and selectivity is a difficult task for the officials working in the department of forensic science in China. In this work, a new method was developed for the detection of piperazine derivatives: it was performed under the various specific conditions required for conducting chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. With this novel method, TFMPP and mCPP was successfully detected with high accuracy in various biological samples. By comparing the purification effect of different solid-phase extraction columns for TFMPP and mCPP in biological fluids (urine and blood), we confirmed the validity of the novel method. In addition, this method has good linear relationship and a low detection line when GC/MS was performed for detecting TFMPP, mCPP in the biological fluids (urine and blood). It is a simple, reproducible method that is highly specific in the detection of piperazine-drugs. Thus, it is indeed a reliable method in forensic science.

Piperazine derivatives as dangerous abused compounds

“…They are offered for sale also in the form of powder, capsules, tablets, smoking forms, liquid mixtures and injections (1). They produce stimulating and hallucinogenic effects and they are designed to imitate the effects of ecstasy (1,18,27). Abuse of party pills usually takes place in pubs, bars, at dance parties or rave music concerts, on the beach, in the park or simply in the street (27).…”

“…Ren et al (18) noticed that, despite economic growth, there was some serious malaise, especially among young people and children. They emphasized that the younger generation is dependent on new stimulants of TFMPP, mCPP and other piperazine designer drugs.…”

“…In many hospitals, the majority of patients do not have analytical confirmation of poisoning (7,16). The most important is the correct identification of these substances in biological and non-biological matrices, proper diagnostics of patients and effective medical help (7,17,18). The abuse of piperazine deri vatives is dangerous especially because these substances can be freely sold in many countries and on the Internet.…”

Comparison of LC-MS and LC-DAD Methods of Detecting Abused Piperazine Designer Drugs

“…Piperazine derivatives from this group of designer drugs aroused interest due to their behavioral, neuroendocrine, psychostimulatory and hallucinogenic effects [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. They appeared on the illicit drug market as modified analogues of narcotic drugs such as amphetamine [ 9 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Desenvolvimento de métodos eletroanalíticos para a determinação de tibolona e metabólitos em saliva e 1-(3-clorofenil)piperazina (mCPP) em amostras apreendidas

“…Foram encontrados trabalhos que fazem a determinação de mCPP em amostras de fluidos biológicos utilizando GC-MS (REN et al, 2019). A faixa linear obtida foi de 0,1 a 100 µg mL -1 com LD de 0,08 µg mL -1 e LQ 0,1 µg mL -1 .…”