Development of a highly sensitive analytical method for nerve agent degradation products in biological samples

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K16364
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 47030:Pharmaceutical hygiene and biochemistry-related
• Research Institution: National Research Institute of Police Science
• Principal Investigator: Yamaguchi Akinori 科学警察研究所, 法科学第三部, 研究員 (50822087)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 神経剤 / LC-MS / ノビチョク / 誘導体化 / DMTMM

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Analytical methods for detecting the use of nerve agents from biological samples are inadequate, especially for the new Novichok nerve agents that have not yet been reported. The principal investigator has developed an analytical method for the degradation products of Novichok-A agents and conventional nerve agent degradation products, RMPAs, using the condensing agent DMTMM and LC-MS/MS. This method uses DMTMM to convert Novichok-A agent degradation products into stable esters that can be detected by LC-MS/MS. Using this method, an analytical method for Novichok degradation products in urine was also realized; although the detection limit of RMPA is comparable to that of conventional methods, highly sensitive analysis of Novichok degradation products has been very difficult. This method is inexpensive, uses general-purpose equipment, and can be easily implemented in many laboratories.

Free Research Field

分析化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

研究代表者は新たな神経剤ノビチョクA剤の加水分解物の初めての分析法を開発しました。この分析法は、従来の神経剤分解物に対しても、従来法と同等または優れた性能を示します。本法に必要な設備は、一般的なLC-MS装置と安価な市販試薬のみであるため、リソースに限りのある研究室でも実施可能です。
本法を用いることで、生体試料に対しても高感度な分析が可能であり、このことは化学テロに対する迅速かつ正確な対応に資することを意味します。ノビチョクを含む神経剤は極めて危険な化学兵器であるため、その対応力を増強する本法の開発は公共の安全と国際的な安全保障の観点から重要です。