Rapid identification of the “smart drug” modafinil in suspicious tablets by DART-HRMS combined with micropunching

Abstract

Modafinil, with the name “smart drug”, sometimes is “invisible” in conventional forensic mass spectrometry analysis, by its thermal instability. Because of this, the illegal trade in it is rampant. Now we have new method to detect it in real case.

Natural or artificial: An example of topographic spatial distribution analysis of mescaline in cactus plants by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging

“…First, the weight of the whole petal was only about 0.5 mg, which is difficult to weigh accurately for quantitative LC-MS analysis. Second, although the microsampling technique (Zhou et al, 2020) we developed previously enabled the small-scale sampling of petals, the flow of sap may have interfered with the accuracy of those analysis results. MALDI can achieve semi-quantification of target compounds on a small scale, while in situ analysis can avoid errors caused by sampling.…”

Rapid Characterization of Drugs in Biological Fluid and Seized Material Using Thermal-Assisted Carbon Fiber Ionization Mass Spectrometry

“…Modafinil, a “smart drug” which has an influence on the dopamine center of the brain like cocaine and methamphetamine, was detected at the signal of m / z 296.0724 ([M + H] + ) in the suspicious tablets (Figure c). Notably, there were less fragmentation ions in the TCFI mass spectrum than the DART due to the much softer ionization and proper thermal desorption temperature. And the protonated fluoxetine ion ( m / z , 310.1422) was observed as the dominant ion signal in the seized weight-reducing tablets (Figure d).…”

“…To address the need of reducing the detection times for forensic researchers, we developed a method based on the ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS) technique. This method has been proven useful and efficient to conduct direct, rapid, in situ analysis on drugs in biological samples with minimal sample preparation. ,, Nowadays, the ambient ionization techniques can be used together with a portable mass spectrometer for point-of-care testing within a few minutes for crime scene investigators. − Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) and direct analysis in real time (DART), which directed desorption and ionization analytes from a variety of substrates (e.g., urine, tablets, powders), had been successfully used for the identification of illicit ecstasy tablets, seized cocaine and amphetamine powders, , cannabis leaves, designer drugs of cathinones, and “smart drug” modafinil tablets, among others. Other AIMS methods have also been successfully applied in direct analysis of drugs in urine and dried blood spots (DBS). , These ionization techniques attempted to minimize the need for sample preparation and separation prior to MS analysis of a complex mixture.…”

“…1,8,9 Nowadays, the ambient ionization techniques can be used together with a portable mass spectrometer for point-of-care testing within a few minutes for crime scene investigators. 10−12 Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) 13 and direct analysis in real time (DART), 14 which directed desorption and ionization analytes from a variety of substrates (e.g., urine, tablets, powders), had been successfully used for the identification of illicit ecstasy tablets, 15 seized cocaine and amphetamine powders, 16,17 cannabis leaves, 18 designer drugs of cathinones, 19 and "smart drug" modafinil tablets, 20 among others. Other AIMS methods have also been successfully applied in direct analysis of drugs in urine and dried blood spots (DBS).…”

Applications of ambient ionization mass spectrometry in 2020: An annual review

“…The field of forensic science has benefited greatly from the develop- A range of AIMS techniques have been applied to the rapid identification of controlled or adulterated drugs, including DART, [55][56][57][58] PSI and its variants, [59][60][61][62][63][64] ASAP, 65 and REIMS. 66 The coupling of ambient ionization sources with portable mass analyzers demonstrates…”