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

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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.

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Acknowledgements

The Research Council of Norway is acknowledged for financial support through grant no. 231917. Gerrit Middelkoop, Elianne Seeberg, Marit Langødegaard, and Elin Eliassen are gratefully acknowledged for their help with the method comparison.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068, Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    Linda Vårdal, Gladys Wong, Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard, Astrid Gjelstad & Elisabeth Leere Øiestad

  2. Department of Forensic Sciences, Oslo University Hospital, P.O. Box 4950, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway

    Åse Marit Leere Øiestad & Elisabeth Leere Øiestad

  3. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard

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  1. Linda Vårdal
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  2. Gladys Wong
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  3. Åse Marit Leere Øiestad
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  4. Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard
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  6. Elisabeth Leere Øiestad
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Correspondence to Elisabeth Leere Øiestad.

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Vårdal, L., Wong, G., Øiestad, Å.M.L. et al. Rapid determination of designer benzodiazepines, benzodiazepines, and Z-hypnotics in whole blood using parallel artificial liquid membrane extraction and UHPLC-MS/MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 410, 4967–4978 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-1147-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-018-1147-y

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