NCJ Number
168689
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 42 Issue: 2 Dated: (March 1997) Pages: 291-295
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This paper describes a method for the stereoselective determination of both enantiomers of methadone and 2-ethyl-1,5- dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolinium (EDDP) in human hair, using an alpha1-acid glycoprotein (Chiral-AGP) HPLC column and mass spectrometric detection.
Abstract
Optical isomers exhibit significant differences in their affinities for receptor sites, biotransformation, and binding to serum and tissue proteins. Methadone has been used for the substitution of heroin addicts since 1964. The racemic form is used, that is, a mixture of the biologically active R-form and the practically inactive S-form. To investigate methadone distribution, a chiral separation of the isomers was developed in human hair samples. The method involves decontamination of hair with water and acetone, pulverization in a ball mill, enzymatic hydrolysis in the presence of deuterated internal standards, solid-phase extraction, and liquid chromatography/ion spray-mass spectrometry. Enantioselective separation of methadone and its main metabolite, EDDP, was obtained using an alpha1-acid glycoprotein column (100 by 4 mm ID). In all nine specimens obtained from subjects under racemic methadone treatment in a detoxification center, R- and S-enantiomers of methadone and EDDP were identified with the following concentrations: 2.58-10.22, 1.89-9.53, 0.42-1.73, and 0.40-2.10 ng/mg for R-methadone, S- methadone, R-EDDP, and S-EDDP, respectively. Results are suggestive of a predominance of the R-enantiomer of methadone in human hair. 3 figures, 2 tables, and 17 references