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Methyl (S)-2-(1–7 (5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (5F-MDMB-PICA) intoxication in a child with identification of two new metabolites (ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry)

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Abstract

Purpose

Methyl (S)-2-(1–7 (5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (5F-MDMA-PICA) intoxication in 1.5-year-old child was presented, together with diagnostic parameters discussion and 5F-MDMB-PICA determination in biological material. Furthermore, 5F-MDMB-PICA metabolites were identified in a urine sample as markers of exposure in situation when a parent compound is not present in specimens.

Methods

Drugs and metabolites were extracted from serum and urine with ethyl acetate both under alkaline (pH 9) and acidic (pH 3) conditions. Hair, after decontamination and pulverization, were incubated with methanol (16 h, 60 °C). The analysis was carried out using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. For the identification of 5F-MDMB-PICA metabolites, an urine sample was precipitated with cold acetonitrile. Analysis was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatograph with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer.

Results

5F-MDMB-PICA was determined only in serum sample at concentration of 298 ng/mL. After 1 year, when analysis was repeated, concentration of synthetic cannabinoid in the same sample was only 17.6 ng/mL which revealed high instability of 5F-MDMB-PICA in serum sample. Eight 5F-MDMB-PICA metabolites were identified in urine sample, including two potentially new ones with m/z 391.18964 and m/z 275.14016.

Conclusions

Toxicological analysis confirmed a 1.5-year-old boy intoxication with 5F-MDMB-PICA. Besides the parent drug, metabolites of 5F-MDMB-PICA were identified, including two potentially new ones, together with possible metabolic reactions which they resulted from. Metabolites determination could serve as a marker of 5F-MDMB-PICA exposure when no parent drug is present in biological material.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the SHIM-POL A. M. Borzymowski Company for the opportunity to carry out the analysis of the 5F-MDMB-PICA metabolites with the use of the UHPLC–QTOF–MS–MS 9030 system.

Funding

No funding was received to assist with the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55093, Borowa, Poland

    Karolina Nowak, Olga Wachełko, Kaja Tusiewicz & Agnieszka Chłopaś-Konowałek

  2. Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50345, Wrocław, Poland

    Paweł Szpot & Marcin Zawadzki

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  1. Paweł Szpot
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Correspondence to Olga Wachełko.

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Szpot, P., Nowak, K., Wachełko, O. et al. Methyl (S)-2-(1–7 (5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indole-3-carboxamido)-3,3-dimethylbutanoate (5F-MDMB-PICA) intoxication in a child with identification of two new metabolites (ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry). Forensic Toxicol 41, 47–58 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-022-00629-7

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