Complementary Separation of Novel Synthetic Opioids

Area of Science:

• Forensic Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Fentanyl analogues are a major cause of overdose deaths globally.
• Illicitly produced fentanyl is exceptionally potent and diverse.
• Effective screening methods are crucial for public health and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a high-throughput mass spectrometry method for screening fentanyl analogues.
• To achieve isomeric separation of synthetic opioids.
• To provide a reliable analytical tool for forensic and clinical toxicology.

Main Methods:

• Utilized liquid chromatography, trapped ion mobility spectrometry, and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-TIMS-q-TOF MS/MS).
• Employed parallel accumulation followed by sequential fragmentation (PASEF) for enhanced sensitivity.
• Analyzed 250 synthetic opioids based on isotopic patterns, retention times, mobility, and MS/MS fragmentation.

Main Results:

• Successfully separated and identified 250 synthetic opioids, including isomers.
• Observed dual mobility band profiles for most fentanyl analogues, indicating multiple protonation sites.
• Achieved high resolution (R_IMS ≈ 80-120) with low limits of detection (0.08-4 ng/mL).

Conclusions:

• The developed LC-TIMS-q-TOF MS/MS method is effective for high-throughput screening and isomeric separation of fentanyl analogues.
• The method maintains sensitivity while improving analytical specificity.
• This approach offers a valuable tool for combating the synthetic opioid crisis.