LC-HRMS characterization of the skin pigmentation and sexual enhancers melanotan II and bremelanotide sold on the black market of performance and image enhancing drugs.
Mestria. Serena S; Odoardi. Sara S; Frison. Giampietro G; Strano Rossi. Sabina S
Key Findings
- LC‑HRMS can accurately identify melanotan II and bremelanotide without needing reference standards
- Both peptides were detected in eight unknown samples confiscated from the black market
- The identification relied on precise mass, isotopic patterns, and fragmentation data
Practical Outcomes
- For biohackers, the study mainly informs that these peptides are circulating illicitly and can be mixed with other risky substances. It doesn’t give dosing or safety guidance, but highlights the need for caution and possibly testing if you obtain such products.
Summary
The paper shows how a high‑tech lab method (LC‑HRMS) can spot the skin‑pigment and sexual‑enhancement peptides melanotan II and bremelanotide (pt‑141) in seized black‑market products, confirming they’re being sold illegally alongside steroids and other drugs.
Abstract
The spread of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) often requires forensic toxicology laboratories to identify unknown compounds without reference standards. We characterized the PIEDs melanotan II and bremelanotide, not legally marketed, in eight unknown samples confiscated by police together with anabolic steroids, hormone modulators, sexual enhancers and stimulants, intended for the black market of bodybuilders, using liquid chromatography-high resolution/high accuracy Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The characterization was carried out by the accurate mass measurements of MH<sup>+</sup> ionic species, the study of their isotopic patterns and the associated relative isotopic abundance (RIA) values, as well as the accurate mass measurements of collision-induced product ions obtained in fragmentation experiments. LC-HRMS confirmed itself as a powerful analytical tool to elucidate the elemental composition and structural characteristics of unknown compounds.
Study Information
pubmed
2020
2020-12-16T00:00:00.000Z
10.1002/dta.2986
1