Silane modified magnetic nanoparticles as a novel adsorbent for determination of morphine at trace levels in human hair samples by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection

The untapped potential of magnetic nanoparticles for forensic investigations: A comprehensive review

With a growing interest in precise and sensitive diagnosis for criminal investigations, nanoparticles (NPs) have intrigued scientific minds working in the field of forensic science due to their exceptional properties. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have emerged as a powerful tool for improving forensic analysis due to their super magnetic behavior combined with smaller dimensions. MNP-based applications can benefit criminologists to solve criminal mysteries with greater precision and pace. This review highlights the different types of MNP-based applications and their developmental and implicational aspects of forensic science. It also renders insight into the future prospects of a splendid blend of nanotechnology and forensic science, leading to a better scientific analysis.

Simultaneous trace-level monitoring of seven opioid analgesic drugs in biological samples by pipette-tip micro solid phase extraction based on PVA-PAA/CNT-CNC composite nanofibers followed by HPLC-UV analysis

Electrospun poly(vinyl alcohol)-(PVA)-poly(acrylic acid) (PAA)/carbon nanotubes(CNTs)-cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) (PVA-PAA/CNT-CNC) composite nanofibers were prepared and characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The resultant composite was used as an effective and novel sorbent for pipette-tip micro-solid phase extraction (PT-μSPE) of seven opioid analgesics (OAs) in biological samples followed by HPLC-UV analysis. Addition of CNT-CNC with the high specific surface area and plenty of OH-functional groups endows the nanofibers with considerable extraction efficiency. Under the optimum conditions, the linearity was obtained in the range 1.5 to 700.0 ng mL^-1 for morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and tramadol, and 0.5 to 1000.0 ng mL^-1 for nalbuphine, thebaine, and noscapine with coefficient of determination (r²) ≥ 0.9990. Detection limits (LODs) based on S/N = 3 were in the range of 0.15-0.50 ng mL^-1. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 4.1-5.4% (intra-day, n = 5) and 5.2-6.4% (inter-day, n = 3) for three consecutive days were achieved. Finally, the efficiency of the PT-μSPE-HPLC-UV method was evaluated for the determination of OAs in human plasma and urine samples with good recoveries (87.3 to 97.8%). A: Schematic illustration for the preparation of PVA-PAA/CNT-CNC composite nanofibers. B: Schematic presentation of applying PVA-PAA/CNT-CNC composite nanofibers as the sorbent in pipette-tip micro solid-phase extraction (PT-μSPE) for the preconcentration of seven opioid analgesic drugs in biological samples before HPLC-UV analysis.

Application of Microextraction-Based Techniques for Screening-Controlled Drugs in Forensic Context-A Review

The analysis of controlled drugs in forensic matrices, i.e., urine, blood, plasma, saliva, and hair, is one of the current hot topics in the clinical and toxicological context. The use of microextraction-based approaches has gained considerable notoriety, mainly due to the great simplicity, cost-benefit, and environmental sustainability. For this reason, the application of these innovative techniques has become more relevant than ever in programs for monitoring priority substances such as the main illicit drugs, e.g., opioids, stimulants, cannabinoids, hallucinogens, dissociative drugs, and related compounds. The present contribution aims to make a comprehensive review on the state-of-the art advantages and future trends on the application of microextraction-based techniques for screening-controlled drugs in the forensic context.

Determination of morphine and its metabolites in the biological samples: an updated review

Morphine (MO) as an opioid analgesic is used for the treatment of moderate-to-severe pains, particularly cancer-related pains. Pharmacologic studies on MO are complicated due to drugs binding to the protein or metabolization to active metabolites, and even inter-individual variability. This necessitates the selection of a reliable analytical method for monitoring MO and the concentrations of its metabolites in the biological samples for the pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic investigations. Therefore, this study was conducted to review all the analytical research carried out on MO and its metabolites in the biological samples during 2007-2019 as an update to the study by Bosch et al. (2007).

New Advanced Materials and Sorbent-Based Microextraction Techniques as Strategies in Sample Preparation to Improve the Determination of Natural Toxins in Food Samples

Natural toxins are chemical substances that are not toxic to the organisms that produce them, but which can be a potential risk to human health when ingested through food. Thus, it is of high interest to develop advanced analytical methodologies to control the occurrence of these compounds in food products. However, the analysis of food samples is a challenging task because of the high complexity of these matrices, which hinders the extraction and detection of the analytes. Therefore, sample preparation is a crucial step in food analysis to achieve adequate isolation and/or preconcentration of analytes and provide suitable clean-up of matrix interferences prior to instrumental analysis. Current trends in sample preparation involve moving towards "greener" approaches by scaling down analytical operations, miniaturizing the instruments and integrating new advanced materials as sorbents. The combination of these new materials with sorbent-based microextraction technologies enables the development of high-throughput sample preparation methods, which improve conventional extraction and clean-up procedures. This review gives an overview of the most relevant analytical strategies employed for sorbent-based microextraction of natural toxins of exogenous origin from food, as well as the improvements achieved in food sample preparation by the integration of new advanced materials as sorbents in these microextraction techniques, giving some relevant examples from the last ten years. Challenges and expected future trends are also discussed.

Preconcentration of morphine and codeine using a magnetite/reduced graphene oxide/silver nano-composite and their determination by high-performance liquid chromatography

A novel magnetic solid-phase extraction technique based on a ternary nano-composite, magnetite/reduced graphene oxide/silver, as a nano-sorbent was developed for simultaneous extraction/preconcentration and measurement of morphine and codeine in biological samples by high-performance liquid chromatography. The magnetic ternary nano-composite was synthesized and its functional groups, morphological structure, and magnetic properties were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, powder X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The optimizing of the significant variables affecting the extraction process was evaluated by a response surface methodology. In the optimized conditions, the constructed calibration curves for morphine and codeine are linear in the range of 0.01-10 μg L^-1 with correlation coefficients of 0.9983 and 0.9976, respectively. The detection limit and enrichment factor for morphine and codeine are 1.8 ng L^-1, 1000 and 2.1 ng L^-1, 1000, respectively. The presented technique was employed for the monitoring of morphine and codeine in numerous blood and urine samples with relative recoveries between 97.0 and 102.5%, and relative standard deviations of 1.02-5.10% for the spiked samples.

Ultrasonic-assisted magnetic solid phase extraction of morphine in urine samples by new imprinted polymer-supported on MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs: Central composite design optimization

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were magnetized with Fe3O4 nanoparticles (MWCNTs-Fe3O4-NPs) and subsequently coated by vinyl end groups (Vinyltrimethoxysilane). MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs were used as support for a new morphine (MO) molecularly imprinted polymer (MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP) by surface imprinting polymerization method. The MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP was characterized by FTIR, VSM and SEM techniques and successfully used for determination of MO. Ultrasonic-assisted magnetic solid phase extraction followed by UV-vis spectrophotometer (UAMSPE-UV-vis) was investigated for MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP and compared with non-imprinted polymer (NIP) using batch method. Central composite design under response surface methodology was used for the evaluation of the effect of variables, individually, as well as their possible interaction effects on the adsorption process. The variables such as sonication time, MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP mass, initial concentration of MO and pH were investigated in this study. At optimum experimental conditions, UAMSPE-UV-vis method was exhibited a linear range of 0.8-8.7mgL(-1) of the MO concentration with a detection limit of 0.18mgL(-1). The relative standard deviation for the analyte was found to be lower than 2.32%. The MWCNT-Fe3O4-NPs@MO-MIP adsorption capacity was found to be 37.01mgg(-1). The enrichment and preconcentration factors were found to be 107.01 and 98.21, respectively. The developed method was finally applied successfully to the determination of MO in urine and wastewater samples with the recoveries ranged from 96.40 to 105.6%.

Molecularly imprinted polymers on multi-walled carbon nanotubes as an efficient absorbent for preconcentration of morphine and its chemiluminometric determination

A simple and selective method was described for the determination of morphine based on its preconcentration by molecularly imprinted polymers on multi-walled carbon nanotubes prior to its chemiluminometric recognition.