Quantification of morphine and its major metabolites M3G and M6G in antemortem and postmortem samples

Morphine is one of the most effective agents for the control of significant pain, primarily metabolized to morphine‐3‐glucuronide (M3G) and morphine‐6‐glucuronide (M6G). While M6G is a potent opioid agonist, M3G has no opioid action and seems to have a role in side‐effects caused by morphine. In this study, a reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatographic method with diode‐array and electrochemical detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of morphine, M3G and M6G in antemortem and postmortem samples (plasma, whole blood, urine, liver, kidney and brain). Morphine, glucuronides and internal standard were extracted by double solid‐phase extraction and the separation was carried out with a Waters Spherisorb® ODS2 reversed‐phase column and potassium phosphate buffer (pH = 2.2)–acetonitrile containing sodium dodecyl sulfate as the mobile phase. The method proved to be specific with good linearity for all analytes in a calibration range from 1 to 600 ng/mL and proved to be accurate and have adequate precision and recovery. Limits of detection in the studied matrices were 0.4–4.5 ng/mL for morphine, 2.7–6.1 ng/mL for M3G and 0.8–4.4 ng/mL for M6G. The proposed method can be successfully applied to quantify morphine and its metabolites in several biological samples, covering the major routes of distribution, metabolism and elimination of morphine. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thin-layer chromatographic and column liquid chromatographic analyses of morphine in urine via dabsylation

A semiquantitative screening method for morphine in urine and a quantitative assay method for the drug were developed. In the semiquantitative method, morphine in urine was directly reacted with 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4'-sulphonyl chloride (dabsyl chloride) in a slightly alkaline medium. The orange-coloured dabsyl morphine was separated by silica gel thin-layer chromatography and the spot intensity was visually compared with that of the standards. The limit of detection is 0.075 microgram/ml. In the quantitative method, morphine was extracted from urine before dabsylation. The dabsylation reaction is very fast and is complete within 5-10 min at room temperature. Dabsylation yield is maximum at a dabsyl chloride concentration of 6.2 mM. Total recovery of morphine using the extraction and dabsylation procedures described is 66%. Dabsyl morphine, thus formed, was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography by monitoring its absorbance at 436 nm on a normal-phase mu Porasil column. The limit of quantitation using high-performance liquid chromatography is 0.26 microM (0.075 microgram/ml), which corresponds to 10.5 pmol of injected dabsyl morphine. Quantitative assay was also carried out by thin-layer chromatography on silica gel followed by densitometry. The limit of quantitation is 1.3 microM (0.375 microgram/ml).     

Simultaneous determination of morphine and its glucuronides in rat hair and rat plasma by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry

The simultaneous determination of morphine and the glucuronide metabolites [morphine-3-beta-D-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-beta-D-glucuronide (M6G)] in rat hair and rat plasma was carried out using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). The chromatographic separation of the analytes was achieved using a semi-micro-HPLC column (3 microm particle size; 100 x 2.0 mm id) by gradient elution with 50 mM ammonium acetate and acetonitrile as eluents. After separation, morphine and the glucuronides were determined by selected ion monitoring (SIM) of ESI-MS using the quasi-molecular ions [M + H]+ at m/z = 286 and 462, respectively. The calibration curves were linear between the concentration of the analytes and the deuterium-labelled morphine (M-d3) selected as internal standard. The method was applied for the determination of the incorporation of morphine and the glucuronides into the hair shafts and hair roots of Dark Agouti rats after single intraperitoneal administration of morphine hydrochloride. Plasma concentrations of morphine and glucuronides were simultaneously determined after administration. Morphine and M3G were detected in the hair shafts and the hair roots. The concentrations of M3G in the hair root were lower than those of morphine in all sampling periods. In contrast, M3G concentrations in plasma were relatively higher at each sampling time. Small quantities of M6G were also identified in the plasma up to 4 h after administration. The concentration difference between the hair root and plasma seems to be due to the incorporation ratio of morphine and glucuronide into hair. As M3G was also identified in the hair shaft 1 week after administration, the incorporation of glucuronide metabolites into hair is obvious. This is the first report of the identification of morphine glucuronide in hair samples without the use of acid hydrolysis or enzyme digestion.     

New enzyme sensors for morphine and codeine based on morphine dehydrogenase and laccase

Two new enzymatic methods have been developed to quantify morphine and codeine simultaneously in a flow injection system (FIA). The first enzyme sensor for morphine or codeine is based on immobilizing morphine dehydrogenase (MDH) and salicylate hydroxylase (SHL) on top of a Clark-type oxygen electrode. Morphine or codeine oxidation by MDH leads to a consumption of oxygen by SHL via the production of NADPH. This decreases the oxygen current of the Clark electrode. Concentrations of codeine and morphine are detected between 2 and 1000 μM and between 5 and 1000 μM, respectively. The second enzyme sensor for morphine is based on laccase (LACC) and PQQ-dependent glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) immobilized at a Clark oxygen electrode. Morphine is oxidized by laccase under consumption of oxygen and regenerated by glucose dehydrogenase. Since laccase cannot oxidize codeine, this sensor is selective for morphine. Morphine is detected between 32 nM and 100 μM. Both sensors can be operated simultaneously in one flow system (FIA) giving two signals without the requirement for a separation step. This rapid and technically simple method allows discrimination between morphine and codeine in less than 1 min after injection. The sampling rate for quantitative measurements is 20 h^–1. The method has been applied to the quantitative analysis of codeine or morphine in drugs. Received: 10 August 1998 / Revised: 29 January 1999 / Accepted: 5 February 1999     

SPE-GC/MS法检测人血中的鸦片类毒品

采用混合型强阳离子固相萃取柱（SPE）对血液中的吗啡、可待因、6-单乙酰吗啡3种鸦片类毒品进行提取,提取液吹干后,再用N-甲基-双三氟乙酰胺（MBTFA）衍生化,进行GC/MS-SIM检测。以乙基吗啡为内标,3种毒品检测的线性相关系数均大于0.99, 线性范围为10~1000μg/L,相对回收率分别为90%~116 %、90%~110%、79%~102 % ;日内和日间相对标准偏差分别小于10%和16%;检测限分别为1、0.5和3 μg/L。该方法灵敏度高、重现性好、操作简便,可用于鸦片类毒品滥用者或中毒者血液中的毒品及其代谢物的检测。     

固相萃取技术-HPLC测定复方甘草片中吗啡的含量

报道了用ＳＥＰ－ＰＡＫＣ１８小预柱固相萃取技术和反相高效液相色谱法测定复方甘草片中微量吗啡含量的方法。对固相萃取条件进行了研究,最终选择１０％甲醇溶液为清洗溶液,７０％甲醇溶液为洗脱溶液,基本消除了干扰组分对测定的影响,色谱图背景吸收小,基线平稳。色谱柱为μ－ＢｏｎｄａｐａｋＣ１８柱,流动相为０．１ｍｏｌ／ＬＮａＨ２ＰＯ４溶液－甲醇（５１）,检测波长为２８６ｎｍ。平均回收率为（１０１．２±１．５）％,ＲＳＤ为１．５％。     

Amperometric morphine sensing using a molecularly imprinted polymer-modified electrode

This study incorporates morphine into a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the amperometric detection of morphine. The polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOT, is an electroactive film that catalyzes morphine oxidation and lowers the oxidization potential on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. The MIP-PEDOT modified electrode is prepared by electropolymerizing PEDOT onto an ITO electrode in a 0.1 M LiClO₄ solution with template addition (morphine). After template molecule extraction, the oxidizing current of the MIP-PEDOT modified electrode is measured in a 0.1 M KCl solution (pH = 5.3) at 0.75 V (versus Ag/AgCl/sat’d KCl) with the morphine concentration varying in the 0.1-5 mM range. A linear range, displaying the relationship between steady-state currents and morphine concentrations, from 0.1 to 1 mM, is obtained. The proposed amperometric sensor could be used for morphine detection with a sensitivity of 91.86 μA/cm² per mM. A detection limit of 0.2 mM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 is achieved. Moreover, the proposed method can discriminate between morphine and its analogs, such as codeine.     

海洛因滥用者唾液中毒品代谢物的SPE-GC/MS-SIM分析

本文首先考查了不同类型不同厂家的固相萃取柱的萃取效果,采用提取效果较好的50 mg/mL的Clean-screen CSDAUL01混合型强阳离子固相萃取柱,对唾液中的吗啡、可待因、6-单乙酰吗啡等3种鸦片类毒品进行提取后,将提取液吹干;再经MBTFA衍生化后,进行GC/MS-SIM检测。以乙基吗啡为内标,3种毒品的线性相关系数均大于0.99,线性范围为10～1000 ng/mL,相对回收率分别为85%～110%、94%～107%和75%～92%;相对标准偏差小于10%。3种毒品的检测限分别为2 ng/mL、1 ng/mL和2 ng/mL。该方法灵敏度高、重现性好、操作简便,可用于鸦片类毒品滥用者及中毒者唾液中的毒品及其代谢物的检测。     

Determination of morphine in biological samples by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Evidence for persistent tissue binding in rats twenty-two days post-withdrawal

Combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with capillary and packed column gas chromatography and a deuterium-labelled internal standard was used to determine morphine in biological specimens from rats 22 days after abrupt withdrawal. Morphine was extracted from urine and body organs at pH 9 and the pentafluoropropionyl derivatives were made for analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The stationary phase was OV-17 and the mass spectrometer was focused on m/z 414 for morphine and m/z 417 for the internal standard, [NC2H3]morphine. With fused-silica capillary columns, the sensitivity of the assay was increased about ten-fold over packed columns. Urinary excretion of total morphine (free + conjugated) was 22 ng/h (range 11-51 ng/h, n = 8) at 22 days post-withdrawal. Free morphine was mainly detected in the lung (1.8-6.5 ng/g, n = 7), kidney (1.5-4.0 ng/g, n = 7) and liver (1.8-4.6 ng/g, n = 4). Traces of morphine were also detected in brain of some rats. Treatment with the opiate antagonist naltrexone, 10 mg/kg on four consecutive days before death, failed to change the urinary excretion pattern or the concentration of free morphine in body organs. The biological significance of the residual morphine, if any, remains to be determined.     

Simultaneous determination of morphine‐6‐d‐glucuronide,morphine‐3‐d‐glucuronide and morphine in human plasma and urine by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry: Application to M6G injection pharmacokinetic study

A robust ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method for the determination of morphine‐6‐d ‐glucuronide (M6G), morphine‐3‐d ‐glucuronide (M3G) and morphine (MOR) in human plasma and urine has been developed and validated. The analytes of interest were extracted from plasma by protein precipitation. The urine sample was prepared by dilution. Both plasma and urine samples were chromatographed on an Acquity UPLC HSS T₃ column using gradient elution. Detection was performed on a Xevo TQ‐S tandem mass spectrometer in multiple reaction monitoring mode using positive electrospray ionization. Matrix interferences were not observed at the retention time of the analytes and internal standard, naloxone‐D5. The lower limits of quantitation of plasma and urine were 2/0.5/0.5 and 20/4/2 ng/mL for M6G/M3G/MOR, respectively. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 2–2000/0.5–500/0.5–500 and 20–20,000/4–4000/2–2000 ng/mL for M6G/M3G/MOR in plasma and urine samples, respectively. The precision was <7.14% and the accuracy was within 85–115%. Furthermore, stability of the analytes at various conditions, dilution integrity, extraction recovery and matrix effect were assessed. Finally, this quantitative method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of M6G injection in Chinese noncancer pain patients.     

New method of identifying morphine in urine samples using nanoparticle-dendrimer-enzyme hybrid system

The incorporation of morphine (MOR) into the nanoparticle structure is a viable alternative to traditional enzyme usage. It has good biological potential to separate MOR from real urine samples. In this study, a new method of MOR identification in real urine samples was synthesized using the β-glucuronidase-dendrimer poly amidoamine (PAMAM) enzyme hybrid system. Replacing MOR in dendrimer cavities significantly reduces enzyme consumption. The replacement technique is done in dendrimer cavities in two stages as an alternative to β-glucuronidase enzyme and even MOR. In this paper, firstly, PAMAM dendrimer G2 was synthesized based on silica. The β-glucuronidase enzyme was replaced inside its dendrimer cavities and the compound was released into a real urine sample containing MOR. The enzyme was extracted from dendrimer cavities. The MOR- β-glucuronidase enzyme bond broke. In the next stage of the process, free MOR entered the PAMAM dendrimer G2 cavities. MOR was detected in real urine samples.     

Quantitative gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis of morphine glucuronides in human plasma by negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific method for the determination of morphine glucuronides in human plasma is presented. Morphine glucuronides, namely morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) and morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), were extracted from plasma by solid-phase extraction on C(18) cartridges at pH 9.3 and derivatized to their pentafluorobenzyl ester trimethylsilyl ether derivatives. The compounds were measured by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry without any further purification. Using this detection mode, a diagnostic useful fragment ion at m/z 748 was obtained at high relative abundance for both target compounds. [(2)H(3)]-labeled morphine glucuronides were used as internal standards. Calibration graphs were calculated by polynomial fit within a range of 10-1280 and 15-1920 nmol l(-1) for the 6- and 3-glucuronide, respectively. At the limit of quantitation (LOQ), the inter-assay precision was 2.21% (M3G) and 2.23% (M6G) and the GC/MS assay variability was 1.8% (M3G) and 0.9% (M6G). The accuracy at the LOQ showed deviations of +4.92% (M3G) and +1.5% (M6G). The sample recovery after solid-phase extraction was 84.7% for both M3G and M6G. The method is rugged, rapid and robust and has been applied to the batch analysis of morphine glucuronides during pharmacokinetic profiling of the drugs.     

Simultaneous Determination of Nalbuphine and Opiates in Human Hair by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

The method for simultaneous determination of nalbuphine and opiates (codeine, morphine, and 6-monoacetylmorphine) in human hair was developed in the selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Thirty-milligram hair samples were incubated in 0.01 M HCl overnight at 50 °C. We extracted the drugs from resulting hydrolyzed solutions with a mixture of chloroform-isopropanol-n-heptane (50:17:33, v/v/v) at pH 9.2. The residues were then evaporated, derivatized, and injected into the GC-MS with the internal standards. The limits of quantification for codeine, morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, and nalbuphine were 0.26, 0.21, 0.24, and 0.18 ng mg^-1, respectively. Drug recoveries fell in the range 72.4–86.5%. The responses were linear, with correlation coefficients (r > 0.9958) for the drugs studied. This study also demonstrated that hair dyeing or bleaching diminished the concentration level of nalbuphine, in vitro.     

高效液相色谱法检测食品中多种香料共存时的罂粟壳

 采用高效液相色谱法检测食品中多种香料共存时的罂粟壳。样品经碱化后采用氯仿 乙醇 (体积比为 9∶1)提取 ,在苯基柱上以乙腈 甲醇 水为流动相进行分离 ,外标法定量。罂粟碱 ,吗啡 ,可待因在 1 2mg/L～ 10 0mg/L范围内线性关系良好 ,平均回收率为 79.3%～ 86 .1%。该方法的专属性和准确度较高。     

Gas chromatography/negative-ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry for the quantitative analysis of morphine in human plasma using pentafluorobenzyl carbonate derivatives

A sensitive and specific method for the quantitative determination of morphine in human plasma is presented. Morphine was extracted from plasma by solid phase extraction on C18 and converted to its pentafluorobenzyl carbonate trimethylsilyl derivative. The derivatives were analysed without further purification. Using gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionisation mass spectrometry, a useful diagnostic fragment ion at m/z 356 is obtained at high relative abundance. Deuterated morphine was used as internal standard. Calibration graphs were linear within the range 1.25 to 320 nmol/L. Intra-day precision was 3.82% (15 nmol/L), 2.85% (75 nmol/L) and 4.13% (225 nmol/L), inter-day variability was found to be 1.77% (15 nmol/L), 4.95% (75 nmol/L) and 9.88% (225 nmol/L). Inter-day accuracy showed deviations of 2.18% (15 nmol/L), -0.72% (75 nmol/L) and -0.13% (225 nmol/L). The method is rugged and robust and has been applied to the batch analysis of morphine during pharmacokinetic profiling of the drug.     

An extraction—spectrophotometmc method for the determination of non-ionic surfactants

The surfactant is extracted into 1,2-dichlorobenzene as a neutral adduct with potassium tetrathiocyanatozincate(II), and zinc(II) in the extract is determined spectrophotometrically after addition of l-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol and triethanolamine. With a 150-ml water sample, the limit of detection is 15 μg l^-1 (as Triton X-100). The method requires only one extraction and is applicable, without modification, to fresh, estuarine and sea-water samples.     

用峰鉴别技术反相高效液相色谱法测定火锅汤料中微量吗啡

本文报道了以峰鉴别技术为定性依据的测定火锅汤料中微量吗啡的反相高效液相色谱法。本法采用改良的Ｓｔａｓ－ｏｔｔｏ法分离提取复杂样品中的微量吗啡。由于采用峰鉴别技术，增加了定性参数，大大提高了定性方法的准确性。本法简便、快速。最低检出浓度为０．０４ｍｇ／Ｌ。在数十例样品分析中，与其它仪器分析结果比照，非常符合。     

Efficiency of a miniaturized silica monolithic cartridge in reducing matrix ions as demonstrated in the simultaneous extraction of morphine and codeine from urine samples for quantification with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Presence of matrix ions could negatively affect the sensitivity and selectivity of liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometer (LC‐MS/MS). In this study, the efficiency of a miniaturized silica monolithic cartridge in reducing matrix ions was demonstrated in the simultaneous extraction of morphine and codeine from urine samples for quantification with LC‐MS. The miniaturized silica monolith with hydroxyl groups present on the largely exposed surface area function as a weak cation exchanger for solid phase extraction (SPE). The miniaturized silica cartridge in 1 cm diameter and 0.5 cm length was housed in a 2‐ml syringe fixed over a SPE vacuum manifold for extraction. The cleaning effectiveness of the cartridge was confirmed by osmometer, atomic absorption spectrometer, LC‐MS and GC‐TOFMS. The drugs were efficiently extracted from urine samples with recoveries ranging from 86% to 114%. The extracted analytes, after concentration and reconstitution, were quantified using LC‐MS/MS. The limits of detection for morphine and codeine were 2 ng/ml and 1 ng/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviations of measurements ranged from 3% to 12%. The monolithic sorbent offered good linearity with correlation coefficients > 0.99, over a concentration range of 50–500 ng/ml. The silica monolithic cartridge was found to be more robust than the particle‐based packed sorbent and also the commercial cartridge with regards to its recyclability and repeated usage with minimal loss in efficiency. Our study demonstrated the efficiency of the miniaturized silica monolith for removal of matrix ions and extraction of drugs of abuse in urinary screening. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A spectrophotometric method for the determination of anionic surfactants at μg l-1 levels

The anionic surfactant is extracted into chloroform as a neutral complex with the bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II) cation, and copper(II) is determined spectrophotometrically after addition of 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol and diethylamine. With a 200-ml water sample, the limit of detection is 5 μg l^-1 (as linear alkyl sulphonic acids). The method is simple and is directly applicable to fresh, estuarine and marine waters.     

Simultaneous analysis of gemfibrozil,morphine, and its two active metabolites in different mouse brain structures using solid‐phase extraction with ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry with a deuterated internal standard

A rapid and sensitive bioassay was established and validated to simultaneously determine gemfibrozil, morphine, morphine‐3β‐glucuronide, and morphine‐6β‐glucuronide in mouse cerebrum, epencephalon, and hippocampus based on ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The deuterated internal standard, M6G‐d3, was mixed with the prepared samples at 10 ng/mL as the final concentration. The samples were transferred into the C₁₈ solid‐phase extraction columns with gradient elution for solid‐phase extraction. The mobile phase consisted of methanol and 0.05% formic acid (pH 3.2). Multiple reaction monitoring has been applied to analyze gemfibrozil (m/z 249.0 → 121.0) in anion mode, and M6G‐d3 (m/z 465.1 → 289.1), morphine (m/z 286.0 → 200.9), and M3G and M6G (m/z 462.1 → 286.1) in the positive ion mode. The method has a linear calibration range from 0.05 to 10 ng for gemfibrozil, morphine, and M3G and M6G with correlation coefficients >0.993. The lower limit of quantitation for all four analytes was 0.05 ng/mL, relative standard deviation of intra‐ and interday precision was less than 10.5%, and the relative error of accuracy was from ?8.2 to 8.3% at low, medium, and high concentrations for all the analytes. In conclusion, gemfibrozil can influence the morphine antinociception after coronary heart disease induced chronic angina by the change in one of morphine metabolites', M3G, distribution in mouse brain.