Analysis of New Synthetic Drugs by Ion Mobility Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Characteristic ion mobility mass spectrometry data, reduced mobility, and limits of detection (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) were determined for six synthetic drugs and cocaine by ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry (IM-TOF-MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI). The studied synthetic illicit drugs recently appeared on the recreational drug market as designer drugs and were methylone, 4-MEC (4'-methylethcathinone), 3,4-MDPV (3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone), JWH-210 [4-ethylnaphthalen-1-yl-(1-pentylindol-3-yl)methanone], JWH-250 [2-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)ethanone], and JWH-203 [1-pentyl-3-(2'-chlorophenylacetyl) indole]. Absolute reduced mobilities in nitrogen were 1.35, 1.28, 1.41, 1.30, 1.18, 0.98, 1.09, and 1.07 cm2V(-1)s(-1), for methylone [M-H]+, methylone [M+H]+, 4-MEC [M-H]+, 4-MEC [M+H]+, 3,4-MDPV [M+H]+, JWH-210 [M+H]+, JWH-250 [M+H]+, and JWH-203 [M+H]+, respectively. Selected illicit drugs are easily identified by IM-TOF-MS during a 100s analysis. Relative Limits of detection ranged from 4 to 400 nM are demonstrated for these compounds. Such relative limits of detection correspond to 14 pg to 2 ng absolute limits of detection. Better detection limits are obtained in APCI mode for all the illicit drugs except cocaine. ESI mode was found to be preferable for the IM-TOF-MS detection of cocaine at trace levels. A single sample analysis is completed in an order of magnitude less time than that for conventional liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry approach. The application allows one to consider IM-TOF-MS as a good candidate for a method to determine quickly the recently surfaced designer drugs marketed on the internet as "bath salts," "spice," and "herbal blends".

Rapid screening of 35 new psychoactive substances by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and direct analysis in real time (DART) coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (QTOF‐MS)

“…Kanu et al and Sysoev et al utilized atmospheric pressure ion mobility time-of-flight mass spectrometry (APIM(tof)MS) in the analysis of emerging psychoactive substances and the drift times, reduced mobility, and detection limits for each substance were determined. [35,36] A 63 Ni-IMS has been also used for the detection and characterization of these arising substances by Armenta et al and Joshi et al [37,38] In this current study, a commercial bench-top 63 Ni-IMS and DART ionization source coupled to the quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (QTOF-MS) are employed for the purpose of rapid detection and identification of an extended number of NPS.…”

“…and Sysoev et al . utilized atmospheric pressure ion mobility time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (APIM(tof)MS) in the analysis of emerging psychoactive substances and the drift times, reduced mobility, and detection limits for each substance were determined . A 63 Ni‐IMS has been also used for the detection and characterization of these arising substances by Armenta et al .…”

Ion mobility spectrometry as a fast screening tool for synthetic cannabinoids to uncover drug trafficking in jail via herbal mixtures, paper, food, and cosmetics

“…Especially for drug analysis, IMS proved to be very versatile and was applied for the analysis of classical drugs both in forensic science and forensic toxicology; [96][97][98][99][100][101][102] the analysis of psilocin and psilocybin in mushrooms; 103 the analysis of MDMA, MDEA, methamphetamine, cocaine, and clenbuterol in hair samples; [104][105][106] analysis of volatile drug markers of cocaine, MDMA, and THC in air samples; 107 and the analysis of benzodiazepines. 108 In the last few years, a number of NPS have been successfully analyzed using IMS such as cathinones, [109][110][111][112] tryptamines, 109,110,112 synthetic cannabinoids 8,111,112 and phenethylamines. 111,112 The selectivity of the mobile IMS is limited and some publications reported that analytes with nearly identical chemical structure like the synthetic cannabinoids cannot be distinguished.…”

Investigation by simulation of the RF carpets for the transport of ions at atmospheric pressures

“…It is more important for focusing of the ions at atmospheric pressure in ion mobility spectrometry/mass spectrometry (IMS/MS). Such combinations were reported for ion mobility spectrometer/time-of-flight mass spectrometer (IMS/TOF MS), [6][7][8][9] ion mobility spectrometer/quadrupole mass spectrometer (IMS/QMS), 10 and for field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometer/mass spectrometer (FAIMS/MS) 11,12 and for aspiration ion mobility spectrometer/mass spectrometer. 13 For all the combinations, a 90%-99% of the losses occur at inlet of MS.…”