Insights into the metabolism of CH-PIATA - a novel synthetic cannabinoid featuring an acetamide linker

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • Annette Zschiesche - , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Erstautor:in)
  • Martin Scheu - , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Autor:in)
  • Detlef Thieme - , Institut für Dopinganalytik und Sportbiochemie Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Annekathrin M Keiler - , Umweltmonitoring und Endokrinologie (FoG), Institut für Dopinganalytik und Sportbiochemie Dresden (Autor:in)
  • Benedikt Pulver - , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Autor:in)
  • Laura M Huppertz - , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Autor:in)
  • Volker Auwärter - , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg (Autor:in)

Abstract

The recent change from the popular carboxamide to an acetamide (ATA) linker scaffold in synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) can be interpreted as an attempt to circumvent legal regulations, setting new analytical challenges. Metabolites of N-cyclohexyl-2-(1-pentyl-1H-indol-3-yl)acetamide: CH-PIATA, the second ATA type SCRA detected in the EU, were investigated in urine and serum samples by LC-HRMS-MS and LC-MS-MS. Two different in vitro models: a pHLM assay and HepG2-cells as well as an in silico prediction by GLORYx freeware assisted in metabolite formation/identification. CH-PIATA was extensively metabolized, leading to metabolites formed primarily by mono- and dihydroxylation. For urine and serum specimens, monohydroxylation at the indole core or the methylene spacer of the acetamide linker (M1.8), carboxylic acid formation at the N-pentyl side chain (M3.1), and degradation of the latter leading to a tentatively identified N-propionic acid metabolite (M5.1) are suggested as reliable markers for substance intake. The N-propionic acid metabolite could not be confirmed in the in vitro assays as it includes multiple consecutive metabolic reactions. Furthermore, CH-PIATA could be detected as parent substance in blood samples, but not in urine. Both in vitro assays and the in silico tool proved suitable for predicting metabolites of CH-PIATA. Considering effort and costs, pHLM incubations seem to be more effective for metabolite prediction in forensic toxicology. The highlighted phase I metabolites serve as reliable urinary targets for confirming CH-PIATA use. The in silico approach is advantageous when reference material is unavailable.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummerbkae013
Seiten (von - bis)359-371
Seitenumfang13
FachzeitschriftJournal of analytical toxicology
Jahrgang48
Ausgabenummer5
Frühes Online-Datum5 März 2024
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - Mai 2024
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-2157-4711/work/155292258
Mendeley c874eb45-057b-3b42-9369-5354e438413a
Scopus 85185490584

Schlagworte

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

Schlagwörter

  • Acetamides/metabolism, Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists/metabolism, Cannabinoids/metabolism, Chromatography, Liquid, Hep G2 Cells, Humans, Indoles/metabolism, Microsomes, Liver/metabolism, Substance Abuse Detection/methods, Tandem Mass Spectrometry