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Deposition of JWH-018, JWH-073 and their metabolites in hair and effect of hair pigmentation

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Abstract

Analysis of drugs in hair is often used as a routine method to obtain detailed information about drug ingestion. However, few studies have been conducted on deposition of synthetic cannabinoids and metabolites in hair. The first purpose of this study was to establish and validate an analytical method for detection of JWH-018, JWH-073, and their metabolites in hair, by use of UHPLC–MS–MS, for forensic application. The second purpose was to investigate the distribution of synthetic cannabinoids metabolites in hair and the effect of hair pigmentation, by use of an animal model. For this, JWH-073 was chosen as a representative synthetic cannabinoid. Finally, the developed method was applied to hair samples from 18 individuals suspected of synthetic cannabinoids use. JWH-018, JWH-073, and their metabolites were extracted from hair with methanol. The extract was then filtered and analyzed by UHPLC–MS–MS with an electrospray ion source in positive-ionization mode. Validation proved the method was selective, sensitive, accurate, and precise, with acceptable linearity within the calibration ranges. No significant variations were observed when different sources of both human and rat hair were used. The animal study demonstrated that JWH-073 N-COOH M was the major metabolite of JWH-073 in rat hair, and hair pigmentation did not have a significant effect on incorporation of JWH-073 and its metabolites into hair. In the analysis of 18 authentic hair samples, only JWH-018, JWH-018 N-5-OH M, and JWH-073 were detected, with wide variation in concentrations.

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Acknowledgments

This study was approved by the Research Planning and Coordination Division of National Forensic Service and was supported by funding from the National R&D Program of the Ministry Science, ICT, and Future Planning (2012–0009836) and the National Forensic Service of Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Narcotic Analysis Division, National Forensic Service, 139 Jiyangno, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 158-707, Republic of Korea

    Jihyun Kim, Sanghwan In, Yuran Park, Meejung Park & Eunmi Kim

  2. College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeoldaero, Dalseo-gu, Daegu, 704-701, Republic of Korea

    Sooyeun Lee

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  1. Jihyun Kim
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  2. Sanghwan In
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  3. Yuran Park
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  4. Meejung Park
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Correspondence to Sooyeun Lee.

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Kim, J., In, S., Park, Y. et al. Deposition of JWH-018, JWH-073 and their metabolites in hair and effect of hair pigmentation. Anal Bioanal Chem 405, 9769–9778 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7423-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-013-7423-y

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