Illicit drugs in blood samples: new methodologies for toxicological analysis

• Grant number: 17/13882-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Legal Medicine and Deontology
• Principal Investigator: Vilma Leyton
• Grantee: Henrique Silva Bombana
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Forensic toxicology analysis are applied in different contexts, like medico-legal investigation to determine cause of death; monitoring the use of drugs and alcohol by drivers; evaluating the fatal exposure to illicit drugs and antidoping control on sports. It aims different chemical compounds like ethanol, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, opiates and some medicines. Toxicological analysis can be applied on any biological tissue or fluid. However, blood is the only matrix that can reflect impairment on the moment of collection. The classic methodology for drug extraction from matrix requires a big volume of organic solvents, are time consuming and requires high sample manipulation. In the last few years the environmental appeal is growing and this forced the development of new methodology, called microextractions. These new methods require little quantity of solvent, are simple and effective. The most used techniques are the solid phase microextraction (SPME) and liquid phase microextraction (LPME). In the present study, we aim to develop and validate LPME methods for the detection of cocaine and biotransformation products, cannabinoids and amphetamines on blood samples with detection on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. These methods could be used in the future in epidemiological projects aiming the identification of prevalence of drug use.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BOMBANA, HENRIQUE SILVA; DOS SANTOS, MARCELO FILONZI; MUNOZ, DANIEL ROMERO; LEYTON, VILMA. Hollow-fibre liquid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometric determination of amphetamines in whole blood. JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHY B-ANALYTICAL TECHNOLOGIES IN THE BIOMEDICAL AND LIFE SCIENCES, v. 1139, FEB 15 2020. (16/20214-3, 17/13882-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BOMBANA, Henrique Silva. Psychoactive substances in blood: methods of toxicological analysis and prevalence of use on patients with traumatic injuries. 2021. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina (FM/SBD) São Paulo.