Publication
Title
In vitro Phase I and Phase II metabolism of the new designer benzodiazepine cloniprazepam using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry
Author
Abstract
Designer benzodiazepines have recently emerged as a class of new psychoactive substances. These substances are used in recreational settings and as alternatives to prescription benzodiazepines as self-medication for patients suffering from anxiety or other mental disorders. Due to the limited information available on the metabolic fate of these new substances, it is challenging to reliably detect their usage in bioanalytical (e.g. clinical and forensic) settings. The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro Phase I and Phase II metabolism of the new designer benzodiazepine cloniprazepam and identify potential biomarkers for its detection in human biological fluids. Cloniprazepam was incubated with human liver microsomes and cytosolic fractions to generate both Phase I and II metabolites. The extracts were analysed using liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Identification of the metabolites was performed using two complementary workflows, including a suspect screening based on in silico predictions and a non-targeted screening. A total of nine metabolites were identified, eight Phase I metabolites and one Phase II metabolite, of which five were specific for cloniprazepam. Clonazepam was the major metabolite of cloniprazepam. Hydroxy-cloniprazepam, dihydroxy-cloniprazepam, 3-keto-cloniprazepam, 7-amino-cloniprazepam, hydroxy-clonazepam, 7-amino-clonazepam and 3-hydroxy-7-amino-clonazepam were formed through oxidation, hydroxylation, and/or reduction of the nitro-group. Glucuronidated hydroxy-cloniprazepam was the only Phase II metabolite detected. Five metabolites were specific for cloniprazepam. This study provided a set of human in vitro biotransformation products which can assist specific detection of cloniprazepam consumption in future studies.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2018
ISSN
0731-7085
DOI
10.1016/J.JPBA.2018.02.032
Volume/pages
153 (2018) , p. 158-167
ISI
000429184900021
Pubmed ID
29494888
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Assessing population health from exposure to tobacco-specific carcinogens in Belgium using an innovative wastewater-based epidemiology approach (APOLLO).
Development of an integrated strategy to characterize new lead compounds based on natural pro-drugs and their metabolites.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 16.03.2018
Last edited 04.03.2024
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