Publication
Title
Suspect and non-target screening workflows to investigate the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of the synthetic cannabinoid 5Cl-THJ-018
Author
Abstract
The use of synthetic cannabinoids causes similar effects as Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and long‐term (ab) use can lead to health hazards and fatal intoxications. As most investigated synthetic cannabinoids undergo extensive biotransformation, almost no parent compound can be detected in urine which hampers forensic investigations. Limited information about the biotransformation products of new synthetic cannabinoids makes the detection of these drugs in various biological matrices challenging. This study aimed to identify the main in vitro biotransformation pathways of 5Cl‐THJ‐018 and to compare these findings with an authentic urine sample of a 5Cl‐THJ‐018 user. The synthetic cannabinoid was incubated with pooled human liver microsomes and cytosol to simulate phase I and phase II biotransformations. Resulting extracts were analyzed with liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (LC‐QTOF‐MS). Three different data analysis workflows were applied to identify biotransformation products. A suspect screening workflow used an in‐house database built from literature data and in silico biotransformation predictions. Two non‐target screening workflows used a commercially available software and an open‐source software for mass spectrometry data processing. A total of 23 in vitro biotransformation products were identified, with hydroxylation, oxidative dechlorination and dihydrodiol formation pathways as the main phase I reactions. Additionally, five glucuronidated and three sulfated phase II conjugates were identified. The predominant in vivo pathway was through oxidative dechlorination and in total six metabolites of 5Cl‐THJ‐018 were identified. Biotransformation products both in vitro and in vivo were successfully identified using complementary suspect and non‐target screening workflows.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Drug testing and analysis. - -
Publication
2019
ISSN
1942-7603 [print]
1942-7611 [online]
Volume/pages
11 :3 (2019) , p. 479-491
ISI
000462147600012
Pubmed ID
30242979
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Spreading excellence and widening participation in support of mass spectrometry and related techniques in Health, the Environment, and Food Analysis (MASSTWIN).
Assessing population health from exposure to tobacco-specific carcinogens in Belgium using an innovative wastewater-based epidemiology approach (APOLLO).
Release of Bisphenol A and other endocrine-disruptive compounds from resin-based dental materials.
Bisphenol A alternatives: transfer from food contact materials, fate and human exposure.
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 09.10.2018
Last edited 15.11.2022
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