Analytical method development for detection and quantification of AMB-FUBINACA in mouse brain tissue using GC-MS/MS

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Forensic Toxicology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• AMB-FUBINACA is an indazole-derived synthetic cannabinoid with potential for abuse.
• Accurate quantification in biological matrices is crucial for forensic and clinical toxicology.
• Previous methods may lack comprehensive validation for brain tissue analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a sensitive analytical method for AMB-FUBINACA quantification in mouse brain.
• To assess the extraction efficiency and method performance using GC-MS/MS.
• To provide a reliable tool for forensic investigations of AMB-FUBINACA exposure.

Main Methods:

• Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) with ethyl acetate was used for sample preparation.
• Gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (GC/CI-MS/MS) was employed for analysis.
• Method validation included linearity, LOD, LOQ, precision, accuracy, and recovery studies.

Main Results:

• The GC-MS/MS method demonstrated high efficiency with excellent linearity (r²=0.99) from 1-1000 ng/mL.
• The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.5 ng/g and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1 ng/g.
• The LLE method achieved a 76% recovery rate with minimal matrix interference and good precision/accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The developed and validated GC-MS/MS method is suitable for identifying and quantifying AMB-FUBINACA in brain samples.
• This method can be implemented in forensic and clinical toxicology labs for diagnosing AMB-FUBINACA intoxication.
• The findings support its use in post-mortem analyses and future toxicological investigations.