A Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-based Dye Displacement Assay for the Rapid Visual Detection of Amphetamine in Urine.

The rapid sensing of drug compounds has traditionally relied on antibodies, enzymes and electrochemical reactions. These technologies can frequently produce false positives/negatives and require specific conditions to operate. Akin to antibodies, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a more robust synthetic alternative with the ability to bind a target molecule with an affinity comparable to that of its natural counterparts. With this in mind, the research presented in this article introduces a facile MIP-based dye displacement assay for the detection of (±) amphetamine in urine. The selective nature of MIPs coupled with a displaceable dye enables the resulting low-cost assay to rapidly produce a clear visual confirmation of a target's presence, offering huge commercial potential. The following manuscript characterizes the proposed assay, drawing attention to various facets of the sensor design and optimization. To this end, synthesis of a MIP tailored towards amphetamine is described, scrutinizing the composition and selectivity (ibuprofen, naproxen, 2-methoxphenidine, quetiapine) of the reported synthetic receptor. Dye selection for the development of the displacement assay follows, proceeded by optimization of the displacement process by investigating the time taken and the amount of MIP powder required for optimum displacement. An optimized dose-response curve is then presented, introducing (±) amphetamine hydrochloride (0.01-1 mg mL-1) to the engineered sensor and determining the limit of detection (LoD). The research culminates in the assay being used for the analysis of spiked urine samples (amphetamine, ibuprofen, naproxen, 2-methoxphenidine, quetiapine, bupropion, pheniramine, bromopheniramine) and evaluating its potential as a low-cost, rapid and selective method of analysis.

An Acute Ocfentanil Fatality: A Case Report with Postmortem Concentrations.

A 24-year-old man known to consume illegal drugs was found dead in his apartment. A reclosable plastic zipper bag containing several hundred milligrams of a brown powder was found close to the dead body and the first assumption of the investigators was death due to heroin intoxication. Therefore, a legal autopsy was ordered. The following toxicological analysis revealed ocfentanil in urine and in the brown powder. Four different approaches for the determination of the ocfentanil concentrations in peripheral whole blood are described. Enrichment of ocfentanil from the powder was realized. With this reference, it was possible to determine the ocfentanil concentration in the seized powder to be 0.91%. Concentrations of ocfentanil were also determined in the sampled body fluids using the standard addition procedure. In peripheral blood 9.1 µg/L, in heart blood 27.9 µg/L and in urine 480 µg/L were measured. In addition, the antidepressant citalopram, the neuroleptic quetiapine and cannabinoids were found in urine and subsequently quantified in peripheral blood.

Quetiapine Carboxylic Acid and Quetiapine Sulfoxide Prevalence in Patient Urine.

Treatment adherence is often an issue with mental health patients. For those prescribed quetiapine (Seroquel®), the low levels of parent drug and plasma metabolite(s) (e.g., 7-hydroxyquetiapine) typically used in urine drug monitoring can result in false negatives with concomitant unfavorable impacts on patient care. Literature review coupled with liquid chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of patient positive urine samples indicated the presence of quetiapine carboxylic acid and quetiapine sulfoxide as significant urinary metabolites of quetiapine. Analysis of these two metabolites determined that they are abundant in the urine of quetiapine patients and can result in apparent adherence rates that are improved relative to those determined using only quetiapine and 7-hydroxyquetiapine. For example, analysis of a random set of 114 patients who were prescribed quetiapine exhibited an apparent adherence rate of 47% using the quetiapine carboxylic acid and quetiapine sulfoxide metabolites. Traditional metabolite testing with quetiapine and 7-hydroxyquetiapine yielded apparent adherence rates of ~31% while all four analytes resulted in apparent adherence of 48%. The prevalence of these metabolites suggests that quetiapine urine drug testing would be more consistent with prescriptions when they are included in the analysis.

Preparation of magnetic ODS-PAN thin-films for microextraction of quetiapine and clozapine in plasma and urine samples followed by HPLC-UV detection.

In this study, conventional thin-film microextraction (TFME) was endowed with magnetic by introducing superparamagnetic SiO2@Fe3O4 nanoparticles in thin-films. Novel magnetic octadecylsilane (ODS)-polyacrylonitrile (PAN) thin-films were prepared by spraying, and used for the microextraction of quetiapine and clozapine in plasma and urine samples, followed by the detection of HPLC-UV. The influencing factors on the extraction efficiency of magnetic ODS-PAN TFME, including pH, extraction time, desorption solvent, desorption time, and ion strength were investigated systematically. Under the optimal conditions, both analytes showed good linearity over ranges of 0.070-9.000µgmL(-1) and 0.012-9.000µgmL(-1) in plasma and urine samples, respectively, with correlation coefficients (R(2)) above 0.9990. Limits of detection (LODs) for quetiapine in plasma and urine samples were 0.013 and 0.003µgmL(-1), respectively. LODs for clozapine in plasma and urine samples were 0.015 and 0.003µgmL(-1), respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for quetiapine and clozapine were less than 9.23%. After the validation, the protocol was successfully applied for the determination of quetiapine and clozapine in patients' plasma and urine samples with satisfactory recoveries between 99-110%. The proposed magnetic ODS-PAN TFME was very simple, fast and easy to handle. It showed high potential as a powerful pretreatment technology for routine therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in plasma and urine samples.

Urine testing for antipsychotics: a pilot trial for a method to determine detection levels.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of the present study was to demonstrate that the analytical assay of interest can detect antipsychotics in human urine specimens. METHOD: Forty inpatients treated with haloperidol, quetiapine, risperidone, or olanzapine were recruited to participate in a one visit study. During the study visit, demographic and clinical information was collected as well as one urine sample that was forwarded to the Ameritox Laboratory and assayed for the presence of antipsychotic medications and/or metabolites. Urine samples were analyzed to determine detection sensitivity for four antipsychotic medications and their metabolites (risperidone, quetiapine, olanzapine, and/or haloperidol) using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. RESULTS: All urine samples produced positive results for the antipsychotic(s) the participants were known to be taking. Urine concentrations (level of quantification) for parent drugs ranged from <25-417 ng/mL for haloperidol, <25-4017 ng/mL for quetiapine, 0-997 ng/mL for risperidone, and 57-700 ng/mL for olanzapine. CONCLUSION: The analytical assay produced by Ameritox, Ltd using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry can qualitatively detect antipsychotics in human urine specimens. The present study highlights the potential utility of the urine assay to help monitor adherence to antipsychotic medications.