Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists Detection Using Fluorescence Spectral Fingerprinting

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs), termed “Spice” or “K2”, are molecules that emulate the effects of the active ingredient of marijuana, and they have gained enormous popularity over the past decade. SCRAs are Schedule 1 drugs that are highly prevalent in the U.K. prison system and among homeless populations. SCRAs are highly potent and addictive. With no way to determine the dose/amount at the point-of care, they pose severe health risks to users, including psychosis, stroke, epileptic seizures, and they can kill. SCRAs are chemically diverse, with over a hundred compounds used as recreational drugs. The chemical diversity of SCRA structures presents a challenge in developing detection modalities. Typically, GC-MS is used for chemical identification; however, this cannot be in place in most settings where detection is critical, e.g., in hospital Emergency Departments, in custody suites/prisons, or among homeless communities. Ideally, real time, point-of-care identification of SCRAs is desirable to direct the care pathway of overdoses and provide information for informed consent. Herein, we show that fluorescence spectral fingerprinting can be used to identify the likely presence of SCRAs, as well as provide more specific information on structural class and concentration (∼1 μg mL–1). We demonstrate that that fluorescence spectral fingerprints, combined with numerical modeling, can detect both parent and combusted material, and such fingerprinting is also practical for detecting them in oral fluids. Our proof-of-concept study suggests that, with development, the approach could be useful in a range of capacities, notably in harm reduction for users of Spice/K2.

Deaths from novel psychoactive substances in England, Wales and Northern Ireland: Evaluating the impact of the UK psychoactive substances act 2016

“…As detection methods for NPS have advanced, and requests for NPS toxicology tests to be performed have become more frequent, part of the increase in NPSAD reporting over time is potentially an artefact of concomitant improvements in NPS detection methods ( Ford and Berg, 2018 ; May et al, 2019 ; Mollerup et al, 2017 ; Segawa et al, 2019 ; Wagmann and Maurer, 2018 ). However, as standard toxicology screens do not include NPS, and even when requested different toxicology laboratories test against their own bespoke libraries within which there are detection limitations, the occurrence of deaths with NPS detected is likely under-reported ( Wagmann and Maurer, 2018 ).…”

NPS detection in prison: A systematic literature review of use, drug form, and analytical approaches

“…Moreover, fluorescence spectral fingerprinting combined with numerical modelling could be used to identify the likely presence of SCs, as well as provide more specific information on structural class and concentration (∼1 μg/ml). This approach can detect both parent and combusted material, and it is practical for detecting SCs in oral fluids 87 . All the procedures mentioned in the above studies 85–87 could be employed by non‐specialized personnel.…”

“…This approach can detect both parent and combusted material, and it is practical for detecting SCs in oral fluids 87 . All the procedures mentioned in the above studies 85–87 could be employed by non‐specialized personnel. For the development of new laboratory‐based LC–MS detection methods for detection of NPS in biological samples, HRMS incorporating DIA should be preferred, as this will allow the application of sample mining and data mining.…”

“…This approach can detect both parent and combusted material, and it is practical for detecting SCs in oral fluids. 87 All the procedures mentioned in the above studies [85][86][87] WWA is already used for TdA in Australia and trialled in the United States and Spain. 26 This approach compared with MDT is more cost-effective and less invasive.…”

Cannabis et cannabinoïdes de synthèse. À propos de leur détection biologique

“…Plutôt que de chercher à identifier des substances actives, certains auteurs ont très récemment proposé d'étudier des modifications structurales induites par ces molécules en tant que groupe de substances et non plus sous forme individuelle. La première approche est d'étudier la fluorescence induite par le noyau indole ou imidazole, commun à tous les cannabinoïdes de synthèse, dans un environnement spécifique [27]. La réponse sur la présence d'un ou plusieurs canabinoïdes de synthèse pourra être obtenue très rapidement, par exemple sur de la salive, mais sera uniquement qualitative.…”