Next generation microsampling towards sustainable forensic analysis: Volumetric DBS for cocaine and metabolites

• Published in: Microchemical journal Vol. 203; p. 110937
• Main Authors: Palano, Sarah, Turoňova, Dorota, Protti, Michele, Kujovská Krčmová, Lenka, Sardella, Roccaldo, Mladěnka, Přemysl, Mandrioli, Roberto, Girotti, Stefano, Mercolini, Laura
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Cocaine; Quantitative dried blood spot (qDBS); UHPLC-MS; Whole blood microsampling; UHPLC-MS; Cocaine; Whole blood microsampling; Quantitative dried blood spot (qDBS)
• ISSN: 0026-265X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2024.110937

[Display omitted] •Capitainer qDBS enables accurate 10-µL blood microsampling for UHPLC-MS analysis.•Sustainable, miniaturised approach reduces environmental impact in cocaine monitoring.•Innovative method allows accurate assessment of cocaine and its main metabolites.•Successful validation with reliable results, low detection limits and high precision.•Forensic cocaine confirmation made efficient and sound by means of whole blood microsampling. This study introduces for the first time a reliable whole blood microsampling method for forensic analysis of cocaine and its metabolites using quantitative dried blood spot (qDBS) technology and UHPLC-MS analysis. This methodology offers accurate and less invasive sampling and aligns with the current trend towards sustainable and accessible analytical methods. Microsampling is subject-friendly, improves logistics, stability and efficiency, marking a shift towards modern forensic practices with wide-ranging application potential. The qDBS-UHPLC-MS method underwent comprehensive validation, confirming its linearity, sensitivity, precision, extraction efficiency and stability. UHPLC-MS achieved effective chromatographic separation and suitable sensitivity, with detection limits between 1.0 and 2.5 ng/mL, and quantitation limits from 2.5 to 7.5 ng/mL. Analytes showed over 85.1 % extraction yield and less than 7.5 % relative standard deviation in precision. Stability tests indicated superior analyte preservation in qDBS at room temperature versus refrigerated plasma, while minimal matrix effect highlighted the sample clean-up efficiency. Application to real samples yielded consistent quali-quantitative results between qDBS and plasma samples, confirming method suitability for forensic cocaine bioanalysis, thus addressing critical needs in drug testing and pharmaco-toxicological analysis.