Simultaneous Quantification of Methadone, Cocaine, Opiates, and Metabolites in Human Placenta by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

A validated method for quantifying methadone, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, 6-acetylmorphine, morphine, and codeine in human placenta by liquid chromatography–ion trap mass spectrometry is described. Specimens (1 g) were homogenized and subjected to solid-phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Synergi Polar RP column with a gradient of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. The method was linear from 10 to 2000 ng/g for methadone and 2.5 to 500 ng/g for other analytes. Limits of detection were 0.25–2.5 ng/g, imprecisions < 9.1%CV, analytical recoveries 84.4–113.3%, extraction efficiencies > 46%, matrix effects −8.0–129.9%, and process efficiencies 24.2–201.0%. Method applicability was demonstrated by analysis of five placenta specimens from opioid-dependent women receiving methadone pharmacotherapy, with methadone doses ranging from 65 to 95 mg on the day of delivery. These are the first data on placenta concentrations of methadone and metabolites after controlled drug administration. Detection of other common drugs of abuse in placenta will also improve our knowledge of the usefulness of this matrix for detecting in utero drug exposure and studying disposition of drugs in the maternal-fetal dyad.

Assessing Cocaine Abuse Using LC–MS/MS Measurements in Biological Specimens

“…Oral fluid collection can be performed by a variety of methods, including spitting, draining, suction and using various types of LC-QTRAPMS (ESI) 0.5 ng/g; 2.5 ng/g (COC) [115] 1 ng/g; 2.5 ng/g (BE)…”

Analysis of Drugs of Abuse in Biological Specimens

“…A method for the simultaneous quantification of methadone, cocaine, opiates, and metabolites in human placenta by LC-MS was developed by De Castro et al 63) Specimens were homogenized and subjected to SPE in the conventional manner. The applicability of the method was demonstrated in the analysis of five placenta specimens from opioid-dependent women receiving methadone pharmacotherapy, with methadone doses ranging from 65 to 95 mg on the day of delivery.…”

HPTLC-MS as a Neoteric Hyphenated Technique for Separation and Forensic Identification of Drugs

“…The application of high performance thin layer chromatography-bioautography in tandem with mass spectrometry was investigated for the rapid identification of antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) compounds [28]. Simultaneous Quantification of Methadone, Cocaine, Opiates, and Metabolites in Human Placenta by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy has been done [29]. HPTLC method for simultanoeus determination of alprazolam and methyl paraben in tablet dosage form has been carried out by Sagar B. Wankhede et al [30].…”