Drugs in dental biofilm and enamel – A pilot study

Alexander Riedel; Merja A. Neukamm; Miriam Klima; Kerstin Henkel; Volker Auwärter; Markus J. Altenburger

Heliyon (Jan 2024)

Drugs in dental biofilm and enamel – A pilot study

Alexander Riedel,
Merja A. Neukamm,
Miriam Klima,
Kerstin Henkel,
Volker Auwärter,
Markus J. Altenburger

Affiliations

Alexander Riedel: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Center for Dental Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79106, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 153, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79110, Germany
Merja A. Neukamm: Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 153, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79110, Germany; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 9, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79104, Germany
Miriam Klima: Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 153, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79110, Germany; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 9, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79104, Germany; Labor Berlin – Charité Vivantes GmbH, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Toxicology, Berlin, Sylter Str. 2, Berlin, DE, 13353, Germany
Kerstin Henkel: Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 153, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79110, Germany; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 9, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79104, Germany
Volker Auwärter: Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 153, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79110, Germany; Institute of Forensic Medicine, Forensic Toxicology, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 9, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79104, Germany
Markus J. Altenburger: Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Center for Dental Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79106, Germany; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 153, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79110, Germany; Corresponding author. Hugstetter Str. 55, Freiburg im Breisgau, DE, 79106, Germany.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 1
p. e23177

Abstract

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Objective: Enamel and dental biofilm might serve as alternative matrices for determination of illicit and medical drugs. Thus, this study aims at evaluating possible correlations between detected drug concentrations in the matrices and simulated drug use in situ. Design: Eleven subjects wore intraoral splints with embedded demineralized bovine enamel samples. Drug use was simulated by mouth rinsing with a 1.0 μg/ml drug solution three times daily for 1 min (study A) or by incubation of the splints in a 10 μg/ml drug solution once a day for 30 min (study B). Amphetamines, opiates, cocaine and benzoylecgonine were used as drugs. After 11 days, biofilm and enamel samples of the intraoral splints were analyzed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry after drying and extraction via ultrasonication with acetonitrile (biofilm) or methanol (enamel). Results: In study A, median and mean drug concentration ± standard deviation were 1.3 pg/mg and 6.4 ± 11 pg/mg in biofilm and 0.2 pg/mg and 0.5 ± 0.9 pg/mg in enamel. In study B, median and mean drug concentration ± standard deviation were 350 pg/mg and 1100 ± 1600 pg/mg in biofilm and 5.8 pg/mg and 9.9 ± 10 pg/mg in enamel. Conclusions: Overall, there were considerable interindividual concentration differences. Correlations between concentrations in the two sample materials were shown. The results of this pilot study revealed a dependence of concentrations on intensity and duration of drug contact. Thus, important information on past drug use might be provided in forensic cases by analysis of dental biofilm and enamel.

Published in Heliyon

ISSN: 2405-8440 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Science: Science (General); Social Sciences: Social sciences (General)
Website: https://www.cell.com/heliyon/home

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