High Spatial-Resolution Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Ion Trap-Time-of-Flight Tandem Mass Spectrometry Imaging for Depicting Longitudinal and Transverse Distribution of Drugs Incorporated into Hair

This study aims to achieve high spatial-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) imaging for depicting longitudinal and transverse distribution of drugs in hair, which can provide indispensable information for the proper interpretation of hair test results, including the mechanism of drug incorporation into hair. Two types of hair samples were obtained and analyzed: User's Hair, sampled from a volunteer who took an over-the-counter medicine containing methoxyphenamine (MOP), a nonregulated analogue of methamphetamine; and Soaked Hair, prepared by soaking blank hair in MOP solution. Longitudinal and transverse-sectioning of single hair shafts was accomplished by freeze-sectioning using customized microtomes. Vapor deposition of alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid provided the finest matrix layer (resolution <1 mu m, 0.7-mu m thickness), although it provided less effective ionization of MOP compared to aerosol spraying or a combination of both. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-ion trap (IT)-time-of-flight (TOF) MS/MS permitted the imaging of trace-level MOP in hair with a MS/MS window setting of +/- 0.02 Da and a spatial resolution setting at 5 or 10 mu m. For Soaked Hair, localization of MOP in the peripheral part was clearly depicted, but no such biased distribution was observed in the transverse sections of User's Hair. MOP-positive bands generated corresponding to the time periods of MOP intake could be observed on the longitudinal sections of User's Hair. This method can provide forensically crucial information regarding hair analysis for drugs: drug incorporation mechanism into hair, discrimination of undesired surface contamination from endogenous incorporation of ingested drugs, and precise elucidation of drug-use history.