Approaches to Sample Preparation of Complex Biological Matrices for the Forensic Chemical Determination of Carfentanil

Two sample preparation procedures (liquid extraction into nonpolar solvent and solid-phase extraction) of cadaver biological tissues altered by putrefaction are compared. The work is devoted to the creation of a rapid and simple sample preparation method for the determination of carfentanil in putrefactive tissue samples. GC-MS analysis was performed on an Agilent 7820/5975 Maestro mass-selective chromatograph (Rxi-5ms, Restek). A three-quadrupole mass spectrometric detector (LC-MS/MS Shimadzu 8050) was used for HPLC-MS/MS analysis. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a column with reversed-phase sorbent Phenomenex Kinetex C18. Liver homogenates were chosen as the object of study, and alternatively, lysis products obtained by freezing/thawing of liver tissue samples. Sample preparation of homogenates was carried out by heptane liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction methods. Comparison of the results showed that liquids containing lysis products are the optimal choice for fast and efficient sample preparation. The analytical signal of target substances is 1.5-2 times higher than the signal obtained in the study of tissue homogenates using both solid-phase and liquid-phase extraction.