Rapid determination of designer benzodiazepines, benzodiazepines, and Z-hypnotics in whole blood using parallel artificial liquid membrane extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS

Linda Vårdal, Gladys Wong, Åse Marit Leere Øiestad, Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard, Astrid Gjelstad, Elisabeth Leere Øiestad*

*Corresponding author for this work
    10 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Benzodiazepines (BZD) and Z-hypnotics are frequently analyzed in forensic laboratories, and in 2012, the designer benzodiazepines (DBZD) emerged on the illegal drug scene. DBZD represent a particular challenge demanding new analytical methods. In this work, parallel artificial liquid membrane extraction (PALME) is used for sample preparation of DBZD, BZD, and Z-hypnotics in whole blood prior to UHPLC-MS/MS analysis. PALME of BZD, DBZD, and Z-hypnotics was performed from whole blood samples, and the analytes were extracted across a supported liquid membrane (SLM) and into an acceptor solution of dimethyl sulfoxide and 200 mM formic acid (75:25, v/v). The method was validated according to EMA guidelines. The method was linear throughout the calibration range (R2 > 0.99). Intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision, as well as matrix effects, were within the guideline limit of ± 15%. LOD and LLOQ ranged from 0.10 to 5.0 ng mL−1 and 3.2 to 160 ng mL−1, respectively. Extraction recoveries were reproducible and above 52%. The method was specific, and the analytes were stable in the PALME extracts for 4 and 10 days at 10 and − 20 °C. No carry-over was observed within the calibration range. PALME and UHPLC-MS/MS for the determination of DBZD, BZD, and Z-hypnotics in whole blood are a green and low-cost alternative that provides high sample throughput (96-well format), extensive sample clean-up, good sensitivity, and high reproducibility. The presented method is also the first method incorporating analysis of DBZD, BZD, and Z-hypnotics in whole blood in one efficient analysis. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

    Original languageEnglish
    JournalAnalytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
    Volume410
    Issue number20
    Pages (from-to)4967-4978
    Number of pages12
    ISSN1618-2642
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2018

    Keywords

    • Benzodiazepines
    • Designer benzodiazepines
    • LC-MS/MS
    • Parallel artificial liquid membrane extraction
    • Whole blood samples
    • Z-hypnotics
    • Limit of Detection
    • Tandem Mass Spectrometry/economics
    • Humans
    • Benzodiazepines/analysis
    • Membranes, Artificial
    • Equipment Design
    • Designer Drugs/analysis
    • Hypnotics and Sedatives/analysis
    • Liquid-Liquid Extraction/economics
    • Time Factors
    • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/economics

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