https://hdl.handle.net/10807/200 2026-10-11T22:47:35Z 2026-10-11T22:47:35Z https://hdl.handle.net/10807/348778 2026-10-11T19:01:04Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Titolo: Characterisation of the designer cathinone N-isopropylbutylone by a multi-technique approach and its metabolic profiling and stability assessment using dried matrix spots Autori: Odoardi S.; Mestria S.; Biosa G.; Valentini V.; Bassi M.; Bilel S.; Cocita N.; Marti M.; Fabrizi G.; Strano Rossi S. Abstract: Synthetic cathinones are one of the most prevalent new psychoactive substances on the drug market over the last 20 years. Their structural diversity, rapid turnover and variable stability in biological matrices pose significant challenges for laboratories. This study applied a comprehensive, multi-analytical workflow to characterise, profile the metabolism, and assess the stability of the synthetic cathinone N-isopropylbutylone, with a particular focus on dried matrix spot approaches. Structural elucidation was achieved through the combined use of GC-MS, LC-HRMS and NMR spectroscopy. This provided complementary information, enabling the compound to be identified with confidence. Investigating the metabolic profile in an animal model led to the identification of multiple phase I and phase II metabolites, including products of N-dealkylation, demethylation followed by O-methylation and glucuronidation. Differences in metabolite detection windows were noted between blood and urine. The applicability of dried blood spots (DBS) and dried urine spots (DUS) for metabolite detection and analyte stability was evaluated over a 90-day period. Dried matrix spots proved to be a valuable technique for analysing cathinones and their metabolites, and their enhanced stability in this medium stored at room temperature was confirmed, with most of the analytes being detectable throughout the entire study period. This study highlights the potential of dried matrix spot approaches as practical and effective tools for analysing synthetic cathinones and their metabolites. It also provides new analytical and metabolic data on N-isopropylbutylone. The proposed workflow could be used in future applications in forensic and clinical toxicology.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10807/348777 2026-10-11T18:50:04Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Titolo: A Sustainable Air-Assisted Liquid–Liquid Microextraction Procedure Coupled to Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry for the Determination of 11-Nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and Hexahydrocannabinol Metabolites in Urine Autori: Cabarcos-Fernandez P.; Odoardi S.; Mestria S.; Valentini V.; Biosa G.; Bermejo-Barrera A. M.; Strano Rossi S. Abstract: Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid that has recently emerged in the European market, raising concerns regarding its detection in forensic toxicology. Reliable analytical approaches are required for the determination of HHC metabolites together with conventional cannabis biomarkers in biological samples. This study aimed to develop and validate a sample preparation method based on air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (AALLME) coupled to liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the determination of 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) and HHC metabolites in urine. Urine samples underwent alkaline hydrolysis followed by AALLME using a cyclohexane/ethyl acetate mixture (9:1) prior to LC-MS/MS analysis. Experimental conditions affecting extraction performance were optimized. Method validation was performed according to international guidelines. The method achieved a limit of detection of 2.5 ng/mL and a lower limit of quantification of 5 ng/mL. Precision and accuracy fulfilled the established acceptance criteria across all concentration levels. The applicability of the method was evaluated using eleven authentic THC-COOH-positive routine casework urine samples. THC-COOH was successfully quantified, whereas no HHC metabolites were detected because no urine samples from confirmed HHC users were available. The proposed workflow provides a reduced-solvent sample preparation approach compared with conventional procedures and demonstrated adequate analytical performance for the simultaneous determination of THC-COOH and HHC metabolites in urine.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10807/348776 2026-10-11T18:38:46Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Titolo: Validation of a Dried Blood Spot (DBS) Liquid Chromatography – High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) workflow for simultaneous identification of emerging opioids Autori: Mestria S.; Odoardi S.; Valentini V.; Biosa G.; Strano Rossi S.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10807/348736 2026-10-11T00:50:40Z 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Titolo: Understanding the Determinants of Investor’s Subjective Risk Perception and Their Divergence from the Investor’s Objective Risk Autori: Barbieri, Laura; Calegari, Elena; Lippi, Andrea Abstract: This paper investigates the determinants of investors’ subjective risk profiles and the factors associated with the divergence between subjective and objective risk. Using a proprietary dataset of 1,077 investors provided by a major Italian bank, we analyse risk profiles derived from MiFID suitability assessments and compare them with an ex-post indicator of portfolio–profile alignment. First, ordered logit models show that gender, financial wealth, financial knowledge and experience, and investment horizon are significant predictors of subjective risk tolerance, while age, occupation, and ESG attitudes play a limited role. Second, we examine the persistence of portfolio suitability over time and find that the determinants of ex-post alignment differ from those of subjective risk. Wealth emerges as the most stable predictor of portfolio–profile coherence, while the effects of financial knowledge and investment horizon become weaker. The findings highlight the limitations of static risk profiling and suggest that maintaining long-term portfolio suitability depends on factors extending beyond initial investor characteristics.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z