Novel Technology of Rapid Detection of Drugs of Abuse

Accurate detection of drugs of abuse in urine and oral fluid using advanced mass spectrometry technology

Conventional analytical methods for drug analysis are time-consuming, requiring tedious sample preparations. Rapid screening devices are currently available, but they may produce inaccurate results. Therefore, we have developed 3 advanced mass spectrometry technologies for rapid detection and quantitation of 6 common drugs of abuse, i.e. ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), cannabis (THC) and heroin, and their metabolites in urine and oral fluids. It is achieved by applying a high voltage directly to sample loaded with organic solvent, inducing electrospray ionization and generating mass spectra.

The technologies developed by PolyU include: 1) Wooden-tip Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (WT-ESI-MS), which is a simple and economical method with the use of a wooden toothpick; 2) Solid Phase Microextraction Coupled to Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (SPME-ESI-MS), which is an extraction and enrichment technique for enhancing the sensitivity of chemical analysis, and 3) SPME coupled with commercially available portable gas chromatography mass spectrometer (GC-MS) for on-site analysis of drugs-of-abuse.

a) Schematic diagram of Wooden-tip Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry for drug analysis; (b) MRM detection of 25 ng/mL methamphetamine in urine; and (c) MS/MS spectrum

a) Schematic diagram of Solid Phase Microextraction Coupled to Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and (b) MRM detection of 10 ng/mL morphine in urine

Special Features and Advantages

WT-ESI-MS is relatively low cost, easy to set up, compatible with current instruments and only takes few minutes to analyze one sample
SPME-ESI-MS is highly sensitive and can generally fulfill the detection requirements of international standards
SPME coupled with portable GC-MS allows on-site drug detection

Applications

WT-ESI-MS is suitable for the detection and quantitation of ketamine, methamphetamine and MDMA in urine and oral fluid
SPME-ESI-MS is suitable for the detection and quantitation of the common drugs-of-abuse in urine and oral fluid, except for THC in oral fluid
SPME coupled with portable GC-MS is currently able to detect ketamine and THC only. Further research is required to realize its full potential

Principal Investigator

Dr Zhongping YAO

Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology

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