An enantioselective study of methorphan and its O-demethylated metabolite in blood samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Author: Diana Tagviashvili
Keywords: Methotphan, Dextromethorphan, Levomethorphan
Annotation:

This master thesis aims to investigate the enantioselective analysis of methorphan enantiomers and their metabolites in post mortem blood samples utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). The in-depth exploration of this issue has not been undertaken yet, despite its significant importance within the field of forensic toxicology. By employing this method, experts can effectively detect traces of methorphan enantiomers in biological samples, enabling them to draw further conclusions based on these findings. The central research question addressed in this thesis is: Can the identification of methorphan enantiomers and their metabolites in post mortem blood samples be achieved through the application of high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry? To address this research question, an experiment was conducted using post mortem blood samples. The results revealed the presence of the controlled drug, levomethorphan, and its metabolite, levorphanol, in 7 out of 50 blood samples. Based on the available information, it is hypothesized that the presence of these substances in the blood may have contributed to the fatal outcome. Consequently, the experiment establishes that high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry can successfully identify methorphan, its enantiomers, and their metabolites in post- mortem blood samples.

Lecture files:

მეთორფანის და მისი O-დემეთილ-მეტაბოლიტის შემცველობის ენანტიოსელექტიური შესწავლა სისხლის ნიმუშებში სითხური ქრომატოგრაფია-ტანდემური მას სპექტომეტრიის გამოყენებით [ka]