Forensic detection of steroid abuse - Online hydrotreatment as an elegant preparative step - Resubmission
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Earth Science and Engineering
Abstract
Detection of drug abuse is essential for safety and fairness in sport. Steroid hormones are the most commonly abused drugs in athletics but confirming steroid abuse can be difficult. One highly accurate method is to look inside the carbon atoms of steroid to measure the ratio of their non-radioactive isotopes (carbon-12 to carbon-13). The carbon isotope ratios of natural human steroids and those used by drug cheats are recognizably different. However, measuring carbon isotope ratios requires good sample preparation steps and steroids can be problematic for the instruments used. Existing preparation techniques lag behind the powerful capabilities of modern mass spectrometer detectors. STFC research has produced a rapid on-line method that can be used to treats steroids with hydrogen to leave only the carbon skeleton intact - the perfect preparation step for carbon isotope ratio analysis. This grant will commercialize the method by demonstrating its advantages relative to existing techniques and by producing a prototype system that will allow the method to be used by technical staff in forensic laboratories world-wide. The commercialization will benefit from partnership with a major UK provider of drug testing services.
People |
ORCID iD |
Mark Sephton (Principal Investigator) | |
Simon Davis (Researcher) |
Description | The addition of hydrogen to drugs of abuse makes them more amenable for detection and therefore more identifiable by monitoring. |
Exploitation Route | We are discussing the application of the work with our industrial partner for occupational health aplications. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | The work is still under discussion with an industrial partner and funding for more applied (post-method development) work is being sought to demonstrate effectiveness in the relevant real world environment. |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Healthcare,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism |
Impact Types | Economic |
Title | Hydrogenation of biomolecules prior to carbon isotope analysis |
Description | Biological molecules are fictionalised and difficult to separate by chromatography. Derivatization helps but adds carbon thereby frustrating carbon isotope ratio measurements. Hydrogenation is a method for removing functional groups but preserving the carbon skeleton. Here we have developed a relatively rapid online method that prepares biomolecules for carbon isotope analysis. A prototype device has been built. |
Type Of Material | Biological samples |
Year Produced | 2019 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | The final data will be presented to Express medicals for their screening programme. |