David Bell (Presenter)
MilliporeSigma
Bio: Over the past 20 years, Bell has worked directly in the chromatography industry, focusing his efforts on the design, development, and application of chromatographic stationary phases to advance liquid chromatography and related hyphenated techniques. He is a research and development manager in the HPLC Surface Chemistry and Health Sciences Research department at Sigma-Aldrich/Supleco, now Millipore Sigma. Bell also serves on the Editorial Advisory Board for LCGC Magazine and has been named as the Editor for the Column Watch series of articles for 2016 and beyond. Bell’s main objectives have been to create and promote novel liquid chromatography (LC) technologies and to conduct research on molecular interactions that contribute to retention and selectivity in an array of chromatographic processes. His research results have been presented in numerous symposia worldwide, and have resulted in numerous peer-reviewed journal and trade magazine articles. Bell’s undergraduate studies in chemistry were completed at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh (SUNY Plattsburgh). He received his PhD in analytical chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University (State College, Pennsylvania) and spent the first decade of his career in the pharmaceutical industry performing analytical method development and validation employing various forms of chromatography and electrophoresis.
Authorship: David S. Bell, Carmen T. Santasania and Hugh Cramer
MilliporeSigma, 595 North Harrison Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823 USA
| Short Abstract In this study liquid chromagtography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was applied to develop a method or set of methods that could be utilized for the analysis of Flakka and related compounds in biological fluids. HILIC, RPLC and chiral liquid chromatography were explored. Suitable conditions were obtained in each of the modes using a variety of stationary phase and mobile phase combinations. In addition to the general analysis, chiral conditions were also developed to separate the enantiomers of each of the pyrrolidino variants explored. |
Long Abstract
A new group of synthetic stimulant drugs with street names such as “Flakka” or “gravel” have been inundating law enforcement officials around the world. These compounds are widely abused, and can be snorted, injected, vaporized, or eaten. Common effects on users include extreme paranoia; hallucinations; elevated blood pressure; extremely high body temperature; excited delirium; staying awake for days; hostility and having exceptional strength without apparent fatigue. These characteristics of the drug make it very dangerous not only for the users, who have described it as “meth on steroids,” but also for law enforcement and medical personnel responding to individuals who are high on the substance. Flakka became illegal across the United States when the DEA “emergency controlled” it in March of 2014, meaning it was temporarily put on a list of banned substances. (1)
Flakka is α-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone HCl (α-PVP HCl) and there have been a number of designer drug variants that have arisen recently.
In this study liquid chromagtography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was applied to develop a method or set of methods that could be utilized for the analysis of Flakka and related compounds in biological fluids. Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC), reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) and chiral liquid chromatography were explored. Suitable conditions were obtained in each of the modes using a variety of stationary phase and mobile phase combinations. For the analyisis of Flakka and related compounds in biological samples, analysis of spiked human urine was conducted under several sets of conditions with comparable recoveries and detection limits. In addition to the general analysis of Flakka related compounds in urine, chiral conditions were developed to separate the enantiomers of each of the pyrrolidino variants explored.
References & Acknowledgements:
(1). http://www.dea.gov/docs/2015%20NDTA%20Report.pdf
| Description | Y/N | Source |
| Grants | no | |
| Salary | yes | MilliporeSigma |
| Board Member | yes | LCGC Editorial Board |
| Stock | no | |
| Expenses | no |
IP Royalty: no
| Planning to mention or discuss specific products or technology of the company(ies) listed above: | yes |