Ionization of anabolic steroids by adduct formation in liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry

The ionization of 46 anabolic steroids has been studied. The absence of basic or acidic moieties in most of these analytes makes their direct ionization as [M + H]+ by atmospheric pressure interfaces difficult. The formation of adducts with different components of the mobile phase has been found to be an efficient way to ionize anabolic steroids by electrospray. Different mobile phases using methanol (MeOH) or acetonitrile as organic solvent and HCOOH, Na+ or NH4+ as additives have been tested to favor the adduct formation. A direct correlation between the chemical structure of the anabolic steroid and the possibility to ionize it in a particular chromatographic condition has been found. According to their ionization, anabolic steroids can be divided into seven different groups depending on both the nature and the relative position of their functional groups. The formation of different adducts such as [M + Na + MeOH]+ or [M + H + CH3 CN - H2O]+ is required in order to ionize some of these groups and the optimal mobile phase composition for each group of anabolic steroids is proposed. Despite the ionization limitations due to their chemical structure, most of tested anabolic steroids could be ionized using the adduct formation approach.     

Ultra trace detection of a wide range of anabolic steroids in meat by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry

The control on use of anabolic agents in meat producing animals is generally based on urine, faeces or hair analysis. This exercise, which is usually performed in slaughterhouses or on farms, is not relevant to imported carcasses or retail meat. A single sensitive method for a wide range of anabolic steroids was developed. After extraction of the lyophilised meat, enzymatic hydrolysis was used for deconjugation. Solid-phase extraction on a polymeric stationary phase was performed prior to hydrolysis of ester residues under alkaline conditions. Liquid-liquid partitioning was used to separate the analytes into two main categories: phenol containing molecules, such as phenolic steroids, resorcylic acid lactones and stilbenes, and delta4-3-one containing molecules, such as most androgens and progestagens. Solid-phase extraction on silica columns was performed before applying a specific derivatisation for each compound sub-group. The combination of high-resolution chromatography with a quadrupole mass spectrometer permitted detection of 23 steroids in the 5-100 ng/kg range. Ion chromatograms for residue positive samples are shown and discussed.     

Multiresidue analysis of anabolic agents in muscle tissues and urines of cattle by GC-MS.

The illegal use of anabolic steroids in livestock breeding has taken enormous proportions the last few decades. To protect the consumer against possible harmful effects due to the consumption of contaminated meat or meat products, a multiresidue analysis of anabolic steroids has been developed for muscle tissues and urine. The pretreatment of the meat and urine samples consists of an enzymatic digestion, liquid or solid-phase extraction, and finally high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fractionation. Five fractions or windows are collected, each containing a number of analytes. The residues are derivatized prior to the detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Both gas chromatographic retention data and mass spectral data are used for identification of nortestosterone, testosterone, estradiol, ethynylestradiol, trenbolone, zeranol, diethylstilbestrol, boldenone, methandienone, methyltestosterone, megestrol acetate, chlormadinone acetate, medroxyprogesterone acetate, chlorotestosterone, progesterone, and chlorotestosterone acetate. The limit of detection varies from matrix to matrix and from analyte to analyte but is, in the most favorable case, on the order of 0.3 ppb (micrograms/kg).     

Investigations into the feasibility of routine ultra high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis of equine hair samples for detecting the misuse of anabolic steroids,anabolic steroid esters and related compounds

The detection of the abuse of anabolic steroids in equine sport is complicated by the endogenous nature of some of the abused steroids, such as testosterone and nandrolone. These steroids are commonly administered as intramuscular injections of esterified forms of the steroid, which prolongs their effects and improves bioavailability over oral dosing. The successful detection of an intact anabolic steroid ester therefore provides unequivocal proof of an illegal administration, as esterified forms are not found endogenously. Detection of intact anabolic steroid esters is possible in plasma samples but not, to date, in the traditional doping control matrix of urine. The analysis of equine mane hair for the detection of anabolic steroid esters has the potential to greatly extend the time period over which detection of abuse can be monitored.     

Statistical discrimination of steroid profiles in doping control with support vector machines

Due to their performance enhancing properties, use of anabolic steroids (e.g. testosterone, nandrolone, etc.) is banned in elite sports. Therefore, doping control laboratories accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) screen among others for these prohibited substances in urine. It is particularly challenging to detect misuse with naturally occurring anabolic steroids such as testosterone (T), which is a popular ergogenic agent in sports and society.     

Determination of anabolic steroids in dietary supplements by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Nineteen different dietary supplements, ordered through the internet and intercepted by the Belgian pharmaceutical inspection at the post office, were analyzed by means of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the presence of anabolic steroids. After a methanolic extraction the samples were screened for the presence of 49 compounds. This resulted in almost 60% of the samples being suspected of containing one of these 49 anabolic compounds and being subjected to a confirmatory product ion scan. In all of these suspected samples we were able to confirm at least one anabolic steroid with concentrations between 0.01 and 2.5 mg unit(-1) (unit: one capsule or tablet or for liquids: the prescribed dose). The anabolic steroids that was mostly encountered was testosterone (50%) followed by beta-boldenone (25%). These results once more confirm the dubious reputation of over-the-counter dietary supplements.     

Nutritional supplements cross-contaminated and faked with doping substances

Since 1999 several groups have analyzed nutritional supplements with mass spectrometric methods (GC/MS, LC/MS/MS) for contaminations and adulterations with doping substances. These investigations showed that nutritional supplements contained prohibited stimulants as ephedrines, caffeine, methylenedioxymetamphetamie and sibutramine, which were not declared on the labels. An international study performed in 2001 and 2002 on 634 nutritional supplements that were purchased in 13 different countries showed that about 15% of the nonhormonal nutritional supplements were contaminated with anabolic-androgenic steroids (mainly prohormones). Since 2002, also products intentionally faked with high amounts of 'classic' anabolic steroids such as metandienone, stanozolol, boldenone, dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone, oxandrolone etc. have been detected on the nutritional supplement market. These anabolic steroids were not declared on the labels either. The sources of these anabolic steroids are probably Chinese pharmaceutical companies, which sell bulk material of anabolic steroids. In 2005 vitamin C, multivitamin and magnesium tablets were confiscated, which contained cross-contaminations of stanozolol and metandienone. Since 2002 new 'designer' steroids such as prostanozol, methasterone, androstatrienedione etc. have been offered on the nutritional supplement market. In the near future also cross-contaminations with these steroids are expected. Recently a nutritional supplement for weight loss was found to contain the beta2-agonist clenbuterol. The application of such nutritional supplements is connected with a high risk of inadvertent doping cases and a health risk. For the detection of new 'designer' steroids in nutritional supplements, mass spectrometric strategies (GC/MS, LC/MS/MS) are presented.     

Separation of anabolic steroids by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography

Summary The separation of seven analogous anabolic steroids was studied by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC). The retention order was found to be dependent on polarity. All of these steroids were well separated by the addition of organic modifiers to the separation buffer. Of the organic modifiers tested, 1-propanol gave the best separation, better than methanol or acetonitrile.     

类固醇兴奋剂分析方法的研究进展

蛋白同化雄性类固醇是一类滥用最为普遍的兴奋剂物质,对其进行有效的控制和检测关系到运动员的身心健康和体育比赛的公平公正。对类固醇兴奋剂分析方法的改进和发展是目前兴奋剂检测的重要任务。本文主要是对自2002年以来类固醇兴奋剂样品的预处理和检测手段的研究进展做一概述,包括气相色谱-质谱法、液相色谱-质谱法、免疫法、电化学方法以及质谱法等。     

Studies on anabolic steroids. I. Integrated methodological approach to the gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of anabolic steroid metabolites in urine

The analytical and methodological imperatives for large-scale and routine gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric screening of anabolic steroid urinary metabolites are described. Several aspects of their isolation, enzymatic hydrolysis, derivatization and metabolism in humans are discussed. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric data illustrating artifacts arising from enzymatic hydrolysis of 3 beta-ol-5-en steroids, and describing new metabolites of boldenone, methanedienone and stanozolol, as well as the conversion of norethisterone into 19-nortestosterone metabolites through de-ethylation at C-17, are presented. The analytical approach developed for gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric screening of anabolic steroids is based on the sequential selection-ion monitoring of specific and discrete ion groups characteristic to the steroids of interest under high-resolution chromatographic conditions. The major analytical and methodological requirements necessary to provide irrefutable evidence, in the case where the presence of a synthetic anabolic steroid or a testosterone to epitestosterone ratio higher than 6:1 is suspected in a given urine specimen, are also discussed.     

Simultaneous determination of a broad spectrum of nonconjugated xenobiotics by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A procedure was developed for screening 23 corticosteroids, 12 anabolic steroids, 23 diuretics, and 49 central nervous system stimulants and narcotics. The sample preparation includes extraction, the evaporation of the organic extract in a nitrogen flow, and the dissolution of the dry residue. The extract was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure electrospray ionization under different recording conditions. Negatively charged ions were recorded to determine corticosteroids and diuretics, while positively charged ions, to determine anabolic steroids, diuretics, stimulants, and narcotics. Mass spectra were obtained for all test compounds; the characteristic ions, retention times, detection limits, degree of ionization suppression by the matrix, and recovery were determined for all analytes.     

Screening for exogenous androgen anabolic steroids in human hair by liquid chromatography/orbitrap-high resolution mass spectrometry

A method for the screening of various anabolic steroids and their esters in human hair, based on liquid-chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry using an Exactive benchtop Orbitrap mass spectrometer, has been set up and validated. This method involved methanolic incubation of 30 mg of hair and analysis of the relevant extract in HPLC using a C18 column. The mass detector, with nominal resolving power of 100,000, operated in full scan mode in APCI under positive ionization mode. Analytes were identified by exact mass, correspondence of isotopic cluster and retention times.     

Analysis of anabolic steroids in hair by GC/MS/MS

A simple and sensitive gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS) method is described for the detection of anabolic steroids, usually found in keratin matrix at very low concentrations. Hair samples from seven athletes who spontaneously reported their abuse of anabolic steroids, and in a single case cocaine, were analyzed for methyltestosterone, nandrolone, boldenone, fluoxymesterolone, cocaine and its metabolite benzoylecgonine. Anabolic steroids were determinate by digestion of hair samples in 1 m NaOH for 15 min at 95 degrees C. After cooling, samples were purificated by solid-phase and liquid-liquid extraction, then anabolic steroids were converted to their trimethylsilyl derivative and finally analyzed by GC/MS/MS. For detection of cocaine and benzoylecgonine, hair samples were extracted with methanol in an ultrasonic bath for 2 h at 56 degrees C then overnight in a thermostatic bath at the same temperature. After the incubation, methanol was evaporated to dryness, and benzoylecgonine was converted to its trimethylsilyl derivative prior of GC/MS/MS analysis. Results obtained are in agreement with the athletes' reports, confirming that hair is a valid biological matrix to establish long-term intake of drugs.     

Comparative evaluation of aromatic bonded phases for reversed-phase chromatography

Summary Retention factors for alkylbenzenes, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, steroids, amino acids, peptides, nucleotides, nucleosides were measured with phenylsilica, benzylsilica, phenethylsilica and octylsilica stationary phases using hydro-organic eluents containing methanol, acetonitrile or tetrahydrofuran. The retention behavior of the three arylsilicas was similar but distinctly different from that of octylsilica. The difference is attributed to the chemical properties of the organic ligates, i.e., of the alkyl- and aryl functions. The slight variations of retention behavior observed with arylsilicas on the other hand are believed to arise from differences in the pertiment phase ratios. The method used for interpretation of data is based on the analysis of the pertinent retention moduli, relative column retentivities and relative phase ratios. In addition, relationships between eluite structure and retention were examined. The results give insight into various phenomena underlying the retention process in reversed-phase chromatography.Part IV in the series on Stationary Phase Effects in Reversed-Phase Chromatography.     

Determination of Steroids in Human Urine by Micellar Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of steroids using micellar liquid chromatography is described. The steroids, including hydroxycorticosterone. corticosterone, northisterone, testosterone, mexdroprogesterone acetate and progesterone, were separated by reversed-phase using a micelles mobile phase following UV detection at 245 nm. The parameters affecting retention of the test solutes such as the concentration of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and n-butanol-1 in the mobile phase were investigated. It was found that the retention of the solutes was dependent on the composition of mobile phase. The linear calibration plots range from 0.1 to 10 μg ml^?1 in mobile phase containing 5.0 × 10^?2 mol l^?1 SDS/9 % n-butanol-1 at pH 6.0, and the detection limit in order of 0.1 μg ml^?1 was obtained. The proposed method was used for the determination of steroids in urine using direct injection of samples without previous treatment.     

Comparison of the Separation Characteristics of the Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Stationary Phases XBridge C8 and Phenyl and XTerra Phenyl in RP-LC

Differences in the system constants of the solvation parameter model and retention factor correlation plots for varied solutes are used to study the retention mechanism on XBridge C₈, XBridge Phenyl and XTerra Phenyl stationary phases with acetonitrile–water and methanol–water mobile phases containing from 10 to 70% (v/v) organic solvent. These stationary phases are compared with XBridge C₁₈ and XBridge Shield RP₁₈ characterized in an earlier report using the same protocol. The XBridge stationary phases are all quite similar in their retention properties with larger difference in absolute retention explained by differences in cohesion and the phase ratio, mainly, and smaller changes in relative retention (selectivity) by the differences in individual system constants and their variation with mobile phase type and composition. None of the XBridge stationary phases are selectivity equivalent but XBridge C₁₈ and XBridge Shield RP₁₈ have similar separation properties, likewise so do XBridge C₈ and XBridge Phenyl, while the differences between the two groups of two stationary phases is greater than the difference within either group. The limited range of changes in selectivity is demonstrated by the high coefficient of determination (>0.98) for plots of the retention factors for varied compounds on the different XBridge phases with the same mobile phase composition.     

High-performance liquid chromatography of seized drugs at elevated pressure with 1.7 microm hybrid C18 stationary phase columns

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separation of drugs at elevated pressure with 1.7 microm hybrid C18 stationary phase columns was investigated. This technique, which uses instrumentation engineered to handle the narrow peaks and high back pressures generated by 1.7 microm particle columns, provided significantly better resolution and/or faster analysis than conventional HPLC and capillary electrophoresis (CE). The use of 2mm internal diameter (i.d.) columns of 3-10 cm length has been evaluated for the separation of basic and neutral drugs, drug profiling, and general screening (including acidic drugs). For these applications, compared to conventional HPLC and CE, it provided up to 12x and 3x faster analyses, respectively. Precision was excellent for both isocratic and gradient analyses. For retention time and peak area, RSDs of < or =0.1% were obtainable. Fifteen anabolic steroids and esters were well separated in a 2.5 min gradient. For drug profiling, compared to HPLC and CE, approximately twice as many peaks were resolved. HPLC at elevated pressure is also well suited as a general screening technique. Twenty-four solutes of varying drug classes including narcotic analgesics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids were fully separated in a 13.5 min gradient.     

Determination of residual anabolic steroid in meat by gas chromatography-ion trap-mass spectrometer

The use of natural and synthetic anabolic steroids in animal fattening has been prohibited in Taiwan and many countries because of their potential toxic effect on public health. This paper describes a newly developed gas chromatography-ion trap-mass spectrometry (GC-IT-MS) method for the quantitative determination of various residual anabolic steroids in meat. Anabolic steroid was derivatized with N-methyl-N-trimethylsilytrifluoroacetamide prior to GC-IT-MS analysis. MS² was employed for quantitative measurement. In addition, 2d-estradiol was used as an internal standard. Quantitative determination was based on the ratio of peak area of steroid derivative to peak area of internal standard derivative. Good linearity of each compound, 0.03-1.0 μg/ml, was determined. Solvent extraction was used to extract residual anabolic compounds in meat samples and a solid phase extraction (SPE) procedure was utilized for sample cleanup and pre-concentration. The limits of detection of anabolic compounds approximately ranged from 0.1 to 0.4 μg/kg. The detection limit was comparable with or better than reported methods and was below the minimum required performance limits (MRPLs) established by the European Community (EC). The application of this newly developed method was demonstrated by analyzing various beef, pork, chicken and several animal internal organ samples from local markets.     

Investigations of anabolic drug abuse in athletics and cattle feed. II. Specific determination of methandienone (Dianabol) in urine in nanogram amounts

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the free excreted anabolic drug methandienone in pharmacokinetic studies is described. After extraction of the free steroids from urine, separation on reversed-phase columns leads to quantitative determination of this drug down to 5 ng, and to qualitative detection of less than 1 ng amounts. Because the anabolic drugs and their metabolites are eluted later than the other normally excreted constituents this method is also useful for the routine surveillance of anabolic drug abuse in the sports in general.