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Feasibility of Dried Blood Spot Collection for Caffeine Pharmacokinetic Studies in Microgravity: Insights from Parabolic Flight Campaigns
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  • Audrey Derobertmasure ,
  • Li Shean Toh,
  • Céline Verstuyft,
  • Srboljub Lukic,
  • Christelle De Sousa Carvalho,
  • Raphaël Couronné,
  • Marie Beauvalet ,
  • Stéphanie Chhun,
  • Pierre Boutouyrie
Audrey Derobertmasure
Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou
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Li Shean Toh
University of Nottingham
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Céline Verstuyft
Assistance Publique - Hopitaux de Paris
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Srboljub Lukic
Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker - Enfants Malades, Inserm U1151, INEM, Laboratoire d'immunologie biologique
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Christelle De Sousa Carvalho
Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker - Enfants Malades, Inserm U1151, INEM, Laboratoire d'immunologie biologique
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Raphaël Couronné
INSERM
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Marie Beauvalet
INSERM
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Stéphanie Chhun
Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker - Enfants Malades, Inserm U1151, INEM, Laboratoire d'immunologie biologique
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Pierre Boutouyrie
Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou

Corresponding Author:pierre.boutouyrie@aphp.fr

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Abstract

Aim: Currently, therapeutic drug monitoring for astronauts faces limitations in conventional blood sampling and sample management onboard the international space station. Here, we explore the feasibility of dried blood spot (DBS) collection method during parabolic flights (PF) to overcome these constraints. Methods: We assessed the feasibility of blood deposition on blotting paper for preanalytical aspects in a PF using synthetic blood. Subsequently, DBS sampling validation was carried out in another PF campaign. Twenty volunteers participated in a pharmacokinetic study on caffeine and its metabolite, paraxanthine (as proof of concept), conducted during parabolic flights. After >18h caffeine washout, coffee (115 mg) or tea (30 mg), or 3 dark chocolate squares (11 mg) were administered. DBS samples were collected at baseline, during weightlessness, and post-flight. Caffeine and paraxanthine were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Genotyping for Cytochrome P450-1A2 (CYP1A2) was performed and a metabolic ratio by areas under the curves for caffeine and paraxanthine (AUCPAX/AUCCAF) for CYP1A2 was determined. User experience survey was also conducted. Results: Full in-flight pharmacokinetic was feasible in 17 volunteers with 3 failures due to motion-sickness. We observed expected differences in kinetic profiles, consistent with consumption habits, the ingested dose and the genotypic/phenotypic information. The metabolic ratio did not significantly differ between parabolic flights conditions and ground conditions. Overall participants were satisfied with the usability of the method. Conclusion: DBS collection was safe, stable, feasible and well accepted in weightlessness. This method would offer valuable insights into human metabolism adaptation during long-term spaceflight, addressing space pharmacology challenges.
10 Jun 2024Submitted to British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
12 Jun 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
12 Aug 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Major
19 Sep 20241st Revision Received
19 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
19 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
19 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Oct 2024Editorial Decision: Accept