Simultaneous Determination and Stability Analysis of Ten New Psychoactive Substances including Synthetic Cathinones, Phenethylamines, and Ketamine Substitutes in Urine Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.
Feng-Shuo Yang, Hei-Hwa Lee, Li-Ping Tseng, Yung-Hung Lee, Yung-Sheng Lan, Yi-Cheng Lee, Yi-Cheng Chou, Yi-Ching Lin
International journal of analytical chemistry January 1, 2023 DOI: 10.1155/2023/9895595 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractThe stability of ten new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in urine and methanol/water was evaluated at three storage temperatures over 90 days. Four compounds—para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA), para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), deschloroketamine (DCK), and 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK)—remained stable in urine at all temperatures. Synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, butylone, pentylone, ephylone, 4-MEAPP, and eutylone) degraded over time at room temperature in urine but were relatively stable in acidified methanol solvent. The greatest degradation occurred at +25°C, while storage at -20°C provided the best stability. Phenethylamines and ketamine substitutes were more stable than synthetic cathinones.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Laboratory study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Ten new psychoactive substances in urine and methanol/water |
| Duration | 90-day storage with measurements at day 0, 7, 14, 30, 60, and 90 days |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | PMA, PMMA, DCK, and 2-FDCK were stable in urine for up to 90 days at various temperatures, while synthetic cathinones degraded at room temperature in urine but were stable in acidified methanol. |
Abstract
Knowing the stability of drugs is important to ensure accurate and reliable results of drug concentrations. This study evaluated the stability of ten new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in urine and methanol/water at different storage temperatures. Quantitative analyses were performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Three replicates of each storage condition were analyzed at day 0 and after 7, 14-, 30-, 60-, and 90 days with storage at +25°C, +4°C, and -20°C. For each analyte, the percent difference at each time interval from day 0 was calculated for each storage condition. Para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA), para-methoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), deschloroketamine (DCK), and 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2-FDCK) were stable in urine, even when stored for 90-day periods at various temperatures. For synthetic cathinones, the concentrations declined over time at room temperature (+25°C) in urine but were relatively stable in methanol solvent with 0.1% formic acid. The significant degradation was found at +25°C, and the most excellent stability was shown by samples stored at -20°C. Phenethylamines (PMA and PMMA) and ketamine substitutes (DCK and 2-FDCK) were relatively more stable than synthetic cathinones (mephedrone, butylone, pentylone, ephylone, 4-MEAPP, and eutylone).