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Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) coupled to time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (TOF‐MS) applied to the analysis of illicit and controlled drugs in blood
Author(s) -
Gottardo Rossella,
Polettini Aldo,
Sorio Daniela,
Pascali Jennifer Paola,
Bortolotti Federica,
Liotta Eloisa,
Tagliaro Franco
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.200800087
Subject(s) - benzoylecgonine , chromatography , capillary electrophoresis , chemistry , mass spectrometry , capillary electrophoresis–mass spectrometry , electrospray ionization , analyte , analytical chemistry (journal) , time of flight mass spectrometry , electrospray , ionization , metabolite , ion , biochemistry , organic chemistry
A new method for the determination of illicit and abused drugs in blood by capillary zone electrophoresis–electrospray ionization–time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry is proposed, in view of its application in clinical and forensic toxicology. The analytes (methamphetamine, methylenedioxyamphetamine, methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methadone, cocaine, morphine, codeine, 6‐acethylmorphine, benzoylecgonine) were separated with capillary zone electrophoresis by applying 15 kV within 25 min, in an uncoated fused‐silica capillary (75 μm × 100 cm) using a 25 mM ammonium formate electrolyte solution (pH 9.5). The capillary electropherograph was coupled to time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry through an orthogonal electrospray ionization source, with a coaxial sheath liquid interface. The sheath liquid was composed of isopropanol‐water (1:1 v/v) containing 0.5% formic acid delivered at 4 μL/min. Forensic drugs were identified by exact mass determination (mass accuracy typically ≤5 ppm) and by matching of the isotopic pattern. Under optimized conditions, linearity was assessed in the range 10–2000 ng/mL, with correlation coefficients between 0.9744 and 0.9982 for all the analytes. LODs were in the range of 2–10 ng/mL ( S / N ≥3) and LOQs of 10–30 ng/mL. The CVs (tested at 40 and 800 ng/mL in biological matrix) were below 2.97% for migration times and below 14.61% for peak area ratios (analyte/internal standard). Blood samples were extracted by using a liquid–liquid extraction procedure and injected under field‐amplified sample stacking conditions. The method was successfully applied to real cases.