Potential of IRMS technology for tracing gamma-butyrolactone (GBL)

Marclay, François; Pazos, Diego; Delémont, Olivier; Esseiva, Pierre; Saudan, C

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.12.014

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(32 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Several reviews have discussed forensic applications of IRMS (105)(106)(107)(108), and Meier-Augenstein (109) provided even more comprehensive coverage in his recent book Stable Isotope Forensics. In forensic applications, isotope ratio analysis provides information about the natural or synthetic origins of scheduled drugs (110)(111)(112)(113)(114)(115)(116)(117)(118)(119)(120), organic and inorganic explosives (76,121,122), petroleum hydrocarbons (such as in ignitable liquids) (65,66,(123)(124)(125)(126), and various other forensic materials (such as fibers, matches, and paint chips) (127)(128)(129)(130)(131). The ability to analyze hard and soft human tissue has also provided helpful investigative leads about the geographic origins of humans, especially in John Doe and Jane Doe cases where fingerprints, DNA, and dental records are not found in databases (132)(133)(134)(135)(136)(137)(138)(139).…”

Section: Stable Isotope Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Mass Spectrometry

Hoffmann¹,

Jackson

2015

Annual Rev. Anal. Chem.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Developments in forensic mass spectrometry tend to follow, rather than lead, the developments in other disciplines. Examples of techniques having forensic potential born independently of forensic applications include ambient ionization, imaging mass spectrometry, isotope ratio mass spectrometry, portable mass spectrometers, and hyphenated chromatography-mass spectrometry instruments, to name a few. Forensic science has the potential to benefit enormously from developments that are funded by other means, if only the infrastructure and personnel existed to adopt, validate, and implement the new technologies into casework. Perhaps one unique area in which forensic science is at the cutting edge is in the area of chemometrics and the determination of likelihood ratios for the evaluation of the weight of evidence. Such statistical techniques have been developed most extensively for ignitable-liquid residue analyses and isotope ratio analysis. This review attempts to capture the trends, motivating forces, and likely impact of developing areas of forensic mass spectrometry, with the caveat that none of this research is likely to have any real impact in the forensic community unless: (a) The instruments developed are turned into robust black boxes with red and green lights for positives and negatives, respectively, or (b) there are PhD graduates in the workforce who can help adopt these sophisticated techniques.

show abstract

Section: Stable Isotope Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Mass Spectrometry

Hoffmann¹,

Jackson

2015

Annual Rev. Anal. Chem.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…On the other hand, the carbon isotopic compositions (δ 13 C values) of GHB have been employed to separate blood samples derived from endogenous GHB production and those from exogenous abuse, showing a significant isotopic difference (17.1 ± 1.7‰), because the isotope approach can be independent of sample quantity. The isotopic approach is known to effectively distinguish various carbon sources, which reflect dietary or non‐dietary origin, as well as GHB synthesis routes via naturally occurring chemical precursors such as γ‐butyrolactone and 1,4‐butanediol . Accordingly, the use of GHB δ 13 C values can be an alternative way to overcome the limitations of a quantitative approach …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complementary approach for accurate determination of carbon isotopic compositions in γ‐hydroxybutyric acid using gas chromatography/combustion‐isotope ratio mass spectrometry

Lee

Kim

Yun

et al. 2019

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Rationale γ‐Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a naturally endogenous neurotransmitter that is popular as a recreational drug due to its sedative, hypnotic, and euphoric effects. GHB derived from endogenous production or exogenous ingestion has been effectively discriminated by carbon isotopic compositions (δ13C values) through gas chromatography/combustion‐isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C‐IRMS). However, an unintended uncertainty of isotopic signatures caused by a wide range of GHB quantities remains unsolved when using only single‐isotope corrections of the di‐TMS derivative. Methods The δ13C values of the original GHB standard were first determined by elemental analyzer/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA/IRMS). The δ13C values of silylated GHB in concentrations from 10 to 500 ppm were determined by GC/C‐IRMS. With respect to the silylated reaction products, the correction of δ13C values for the introduced carbons was calculated from a stoichiometric mass balance equation. Results The results showed a significant quantity‐dependent trend in δ13C values of introduced carbon (δ13Cdi‐TMS values) with increased GHB standard concentrations (r2 = 0.70, p <0.05). We applied a logarithmic equation to determine isotopic data in low‐GHB urine specimens from five healthy female volunteers. The δ13CGHB values in urine samples corrected with quantity‐dependent δ13Cdi‐TMS values were different by an average of 2.7‰ from those corrected with single δ13Cdi‐TMS values (p <0.05). Conclusions Our results suggest that the overall residual amount‐dependent isotope fractionation should be mathematically corrected by the logarithmic function and this may improve the reliability of isotopic analysis to evaluate the origin of GHB before applying the approach to routine toxicological and forensic studies.

show abstract

“…By determining the abundances of 13 C and 15 N isotopes within these drug molecules information regarding the synthetic origins of these substances can be elucidated. This isotopic composition relates to the isotopic composition of the precursors used to synthesize the drug products and depends on their origin and fractionation processes these compounds undergo [11,28]. Once a drug compound is formed, it will retain its natural stable isotope abundance until it degrades [29].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%