In vitro studies on flubromazolam metabolism and detection of its metabolites in authentic forensic samples

TY - JOUR

T1 - In vitro studies on flubromazolam metabolism and detection of its metabolites in authentic forensic samples

AU - Noble, Carolina

AU - Mardal, Marie

AU - Holm, Niels Bjerre

AU - Johansen, Sys Stybe

AU - Linnet, Kristian

N1 - This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

PY - 2017/8

Y1 - 2017/8

N2 - Flubromazolam is a triazole benzodiazepine with high potency and long-lasting central nervous system depressant effects; however, limited data about its pharmacokinetics are available. Here, we report in vitro studies of the human flubromazolam metabolism analyzed by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). In vitro investigations were carried out in pooled human liver microsomes (pHLM) and recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP)-enzymes. To confirm those metabolites detected in vitro, authentic samples obtained from two forensic cases were also analyzed by LC-HRMS. Additionally, determination of the unbound fraction of flubromazolam in pHLM and in plasma was performed by equilibrium dialysis with subsequent prediction of its hepatic clearance (CLH ) using well-stirred and parallel-tube models. Additional findings obtained by routine screening methods of these forensic cases are also reported. Studies using incubations with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-fortified pHLM with or without uridine 5´-diphosphoglucuronic acid and incubations with CYP-enzymes identified the main metabolic pathway of flubromazolam as hydroxylation on the α- and/or 4-position mediated by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, with subsequent glucuronidation of the hydroxylated metabolites as well as of the parent drug. Further, α-hydroxy-flubromazolam and its corresponding glucuronide were detected in vivo together with the N-glucuronide of flubromazolam. The predicted CLH of flubromazolam using the well-stirred and parallel-tube models were 0.42 and 0.43 mL/min/kg, respectively. Based on the data presented here, flubromazolam is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4/5 with a high protein-binding and a predicted low clearance. Analysis of authentic samples suggested that analytical targets for flubromazolam should be the compound itself and α-hydroxy-flubromazolam.

AB - Flubromazolam is a triazole benzodiazepine with high potency and long-lasting central nervous system depressant effects; however, limited data about its pharmacokinetics are available. Here, we report in vitro studies of the human flubromazolam metabolism analyzed by liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). In vitro investigations were carried out in pooled human liver microsomes (pHLM) and recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP)-enzymes. To confirm those metabolites detected in vitro, authentic samples obtained from two forensic cases were also analyzed by LC-HRMS. Additionally, determination of the unbound fraction of flubromazolam in pHLM and in plasma was performed by equilibrium dialysis with subsequent prediction of its hepatic clearance (CLH ) using well-stirred and parallel-tube models. Additional findings obtained by routine screening methods of these forensic cases are also reported. Studies using incubations with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-fortified pHLM with or without uridine 5´-diphosphoglucuronic acid and incubations with CYP-enzymes identified the main metabolic pathway of flubromazolam as hydroxylation on the α- and/or 4-position mediated by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, with subsequent glucuronidation of the hydroxylated metabolites as well as of the parent drug. Further, α-hydroxy-flubromazolam and its corresponding glucuronide were detected in vivo together with the N-glucuronide of flubromazolam. The predicted CLH of flubromazolam using the well-stirred and parallel-tube models were 0.42 and 0.43 mL/min/kg, respectively. Based on the data presented here, flubromazolam is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4/5 with a high protein-binding and a predicted low clearance. Analysis of authentic samples suggested that analytical targets for flubromazolam should be the compound itself and α-hydroxy-flubromazolam.

U2 - 10.1002/dta.2146

DO - 10.1002/dta.2146

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27935260

SN - 1942-7603

VL - 9

SP - 1182

EP - 1191

JO - Drug Testing and Analysis

JF - Drug Testing and Analysis

IS - 8

ER -