The Application of Metabolomics in Forensic Science with Focus on Forensic Toxicology and Time-of-Death Estimation

Overview

Journal Metabolites

Publisher MDPI

Date 2021 Dec 23

PMID 34940558

Citations 6

Authors

Joanna Dawidowska

Marta Krzyzanowska

Michal Jan Markuszewski

Michal Kaliszan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Recently, the diagnostic methods used by scientists in forensic examinations have enormously expanded. Metabolomics provides an important contribution to analytical method development. The main purpose of this review was to investigate and summarize the most recent applications of metabolomics in forensic science. The primary research method was an extensive review of available international literature in PubMed. The keywords "forensic" and "metabolomics" were used as search criteria for the PubMed database scan. Most authors emphasized the analysis of different biological sample types using chromatography methods. The presented review is a summary of recently published implementations of metabolomics in forensic science and types of biological material used and techniques applied. Possible opportunities for valuable metabolomics' applications are discussed to emphasize the essential necessities resulting in numerous nontargeted metabolomics' assays.

Citing Articles

Influence of Drugs and Toxins on Decomposition Dynamics: Forensic Implications.

Li S, Hu Z, Shao Y, Zhang G, Wang Z, Guo Y Molecules. 2024; 29(22).

PMID: 39598612 PMC: 11596977. DOI: 10.3390/molecules29225221.

Metabolomics in archaeological science: A review of their advances and present requirements.

Badillo-Sanchez D, Ruber M, Davies-Barrett A, Jones D, Hansen M, Inskip S Sci Adv. 2023; 9(32):eadh0485.

PMID: 37566664 PMC: 10421062. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh0485.

A Metabolomics-Based Study on the Discriminative Classification Models and Toxicological Mechanism of Estazolam Fatal Intoxication.

Dai X, Bai R, Xie B, Xiang J, Miao X, Shi Y Metabolites. 2023; 13(4).

PMID: 37110225 PMC: 10144813. DOI: 10.3390/metabo13040567.

PMI estimation through metabolomics and potassium analysis on animal vitreous humour.

Locci E, Stocchero M, Gottardo R, Chighine A, De-Giorgio F, Ferino G Int J Legal Med. 2023; 137(3):887-895.

PMID: 36799966 PMC: 10085955. DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-02975-6.

Optimization of Imputation Strategies for High-Resolution Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HR GC-MS) Metabolomics Data.

Ampong I, Zimmerman K, Nathanielsz P, Cox L, Olivier M Metabolites. 2022; 12(5).

PMID: 35629933 PMC: 9144635. DOI: 10.3390/metabo12050429.

References

Peterson D . Matrix-free methods for laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Mass Spectrom Rev. 2006; 26(1):19-34. DOI: 10.1002/mas.20104. View

Gika H, Theodoridis G, Wilson I . Liquid chromatography and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry fingerprinting of human urine: sample stability under different handling and storage conditions for metabonomics studies. J Chromatogr A. 2007; 1189(1-2):314-22. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2007.10.066. View

Leon Z, Chisvert A, Tarazona I, Salvador A . Solid-phase extraction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analytical method for the determination of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone and its metabolites in both human urine and semen. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2010; 398(2):831-43. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-010-3947-6. View

Green S, Wilson J . The effect of hair color on the incorporation of methadone into hair in the rat. J Anal Toxicol. 1996; 20(2):121-3. DOI: 10.1093/jat/20.2.121. View

Gonzalez-Riano C, Tapia-Gonzalez S, Garcia A, Munoz A, DeFelipe J, Barbas C . Metabolomics and neuroanatomical evaluation of post-mortem changes in the hippocampus. Brain Struct Funct. 2017; 222(6):2831-2853. PMC: 5541081. DOI: 10.1007/s00429-017-1375-5. View

Dinis-Oliveira R . Metabolism and metabolomics of opiates: A long way of forensic implications to unravel. J Forensic Leg Med. 2019; 61:128-140. DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.12.005. View

Aronson J . Biomarkers and surrogate endpoints. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2005; 59(5):491-4. PMC: 1884846. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2005.02435.x. View

Steuer A, Brockbals L, Kraemer T . Metabolomic Strategies in Biomarker Research-New Approach for Indirect Identification of Drug Consumption and Sample Manipulation in Clinical and Forensic Toxicology?. Front Chem. 2019; 7:319. PMC: 6523029. DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2019.00319. View

Myint K, Aoshima K, Tanaka S, Nakamura T, Oda Y . Quantitative profiling of polar cationic metabolites in human cerebrospinal fluid by reversed-phase nanoliquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Anal Chem. 2009; 81(3):1121-9. DOI: 10.1021/ac802259r. View

10.

Gonzalez-Riano C, Garcia A, Barbas C . Metabolomics studies in brain tissue: A review. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2016; 130:141-168. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2016.07.008. View

11.

Dinis-Oliveira R, Vieira D, Magalhaes T . Guidelines for Collection of Biological Samples for Clinical and Forensic Toxicological Analysis. Forensic Sci Res. 2018; 1(1):42-51. PMC: 6197137. DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2016.1271098. View

12.

Pang H, Jia W, Hu Z . Emerging Applications of Metabolomics in Clinical Pharmacology. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2019; 106(3):544-556. DOI: 10.1002/cpt.1538. View

13.

Aradottir S, Seidl S, Wurst F, Jonsson B, Alling C . Phosphatidylethanol in human organs and blood: a study on autopsy material and influences by storage conditions. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2004; 28(11):1718-23. DOI: 10.1097/01.alc.0000145687.41646.e5. View

14.

Zhang P, Zhu S, Zhao M, Dai Y, Zhang L, Ding S . Integration of H NMR- and UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based plasma metabonomics study to identify diffuse axonal injury biomarkers in rat. Brain Res Bull. 2018; 140:19-27. DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.03.012. View

15.

MacDonald K, Krishnan A, cervenka E, Hu G, Guadagno E, Trakadis Y . Biomarkers for major depressive and bipolar disorders using metabolomics: A systematic review. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2018; 180(2):122-137. DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32680. View

16.

Szeremeta M, Pietrowska K, Niemcunowicz-Janica A, Kretowski A, Ciborowski M . Applications of Metabolomics in Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(6). PMC: 8002074. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063010. View

17.

Kintz P, Villain M, Cirimele V . Hair analysis for drug detection. Ther Drug Monit. 2006; 28(3):442-6. DOI: 10.1097/01.ftd.0000211811.27558.b5. View

18.

Zheng T, Liu L, Aa J, Wang G, Cao B, Li M . Metabolic phenotype of rats exposed to heroin and potential markers of heroin abuse. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012; 127(1-3):177-86. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.06.031. View

19.

Thierauf-Emberger A, Echle J, Dacko M, Lange T . Comparison of ethanol concentrations in the human brain determined by magnetic resonance spectroscopy and serum ethanol concentrations. Int J Legal Med. 2020; 134(5):1713-1718. PMC: 8260420. DOI: 10.1007/s00414-020-02325-w. View

20.

COE J . Postmortem chemistry update. Emphasis on forensic application. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1993; 14(2):91-117. DOI: 10.1097/00000433-199306000-00001. View