Rapid Characterization of Drugs in Biological Fluid and Seized Material Using Thermal-Assisted Carbon Fiber Ionization Mass Spectrometry

J Am Soc Mass Spectrom. 2021 Mar 28. doi: 10.1021/jasms.0c00472. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Developing a rapid, simple, and sensitive method to analyze drugs is critical to forensic research study because of the widespread occurrence of the matrix effect. Herein, we develop a method using thermal-assisted carbon fiber ionization mass spectrometry that can be used to directly analyze drugs in biological fluid. The key feature of this technique is that the biological samples such as urine and blood can be achieved online as precipitated protein on the carbon fiber tip and thermally desorbed by the metal ceramics heater, which can reduce the matrix effects and improve the sensitivity. Analytes including raw urine, blood, oral fluid, drink, tobacco tar, drug tablets, and paper cards can be rapidly identified and analyzed within a few minutes regardless of their physical variations. Due to its simplicity and noninvasive analysis, this method can be used for drugged driving analysis and to achieve point-of-care drug testing in clinical and forensic chemistry.

PMID:33779186 | DOI:10.1021/jasms.0c00472