1
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Balamurugan TST, Stelmaszczyk P, Wietecha-Posłuszny R, Poltorak L. Electroanalytical characterization of clozapine at the electrified liquid-liquid interface and its detection in soft and hard drinks. Analyst 2024; 149:2073-2083. [PMID: 38415352 DOI: 10.1039/d3an02188b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Clozapine (CZ) is a prescribed benzodiazepine psychiatric drug that is often possessed as an illicit drug and is associated with drug-facilitated sexual assaults (DFSA) due to its strong sedative capabilities. Hence, we propose an electrified liquid-liquid interface (eLLI) based transducing element as an alternative electroanalytical platform for rapid screening of CZ in soft and hard drinks which is habitually associated with DFSA crimes. First, molecular partitioning and the effect of chemical composition, pH, and the presence of ethanol in the biphasic configuration of the aqueous phase on the interfacial behaviour and analytical performance of the CZ at the eLLI have been investigated with voltammetry. Next, the electrochemical profiles of various soft and hard drinks were studied at the eLLI. The eLLI-based CZ sensor has shown a broad dynamic range (15-150 μM), lower detection limits (1μM), and adequate reliability towards rapid CZ screening in spiked soft and hard drink samples with reference to the standard chromatographic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thangaraj S T Balamurugan
- Electrochemistry@Soft Interfaces Team, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, Tamka 12, 91-403, Lodz, Poland.
| | - Paweł Stelmaszczyk
- Laboratory for Forensic Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Renata Wietecha-Posłuszny
- Laboratory for Forensic Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387, Krakow, Poland
| | - Lukasz Poltorak
- Electrochemistry@Soft Interfaces Team, Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, Tamka 12, 91-403, Lodz, Poland.
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2
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Steijlen ASM, Parrilla M, Van Echelpoel R, De Wael K. Dual Microfluidic Sensor System for Enriched Electrochemical Profiling and Identification of Illicit Drugs On-Site. Anal Chem 2024; 96:590-598. [PMID: 38154077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical sensors have emerged as a new analytical tool for illicit drug detection to facilitate ultrafast and accurate identification of suspicious compounds on-site. Drugs of abuse can be identified using their unique voltammetric fingerprint at a given pH. Today, the right buffer solution is manually selected based on drug appearance, and in some cases, a consecutive analysis in two different pH solutions is required. In this work, we present a disposable microfluidic multichannel sensor system that automatically records fingerprints in two pH solutions (e.g., pH 5 and pH 12). This system has two advantages. It will overcome the manual selection of a buffer solution at the right pH, decrease analysis time, and minimize the risk of human errors. Second, the combination of two fingerprints, the superfingerprint, contains more detailed information about the samples, which enhances the selectivity of the analytical technique. First, real-time pH measurements proved that the sample can be brought to the desired pH within a minute. Subsequently, an electrochemical study on the microfluidic platform with 1 mM illicit drug standards of MDMA, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine showed that the characteristic voltammetric fingerprints and peak potentials are reproducible, also in the presence of common cutting agents. Finally, the microfluidic concept was validated with real confiscated samples, showing promising results for the user-friendly identification of drugs of abuse. In short, this paper presents a successful proof-of-concept study of a multichannel microfluidic sensor system to enrich the fingerprints of illicit drugs at pH 5 and pH 12, thus providing a low-cost, portable, and rapid identification system of illicit drugs with minimal user intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annemarijn S M Steijlen
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marc Parrilla
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Robin Van Echelpoel
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Karolien De Wael
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
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3
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Van Echelpoel R, Joosten F, Parrilla M, De Wael K. Progress on the Electrochemical Sensing of Illicit Drugs. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 187:413-442. [PMID: 38273206 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Illicit drugs are harmful substances, threatening both health and safety of societies in all corners of the world. Several policies have been developed over time to deal with this illicit drug problem, including supply reduction and harm reduction policies. Both policies require on-site detection tools to succeed, i.e. sensors that can identify illicit drugs in samples at the point-of-care. Electrochemical sensors are highly suited for this task, due to their short analysis times, low cost, high accuracy, portability and orthogonality with current technologies. In this chapter, we evaluate the latest trend in electrochemical sensing of illicit drugs, with a focus on detection of illicit drugs in seizures and body fluids. Furthermore, we will also provide an outlook on the potential of electrochemistry in wearable sensors for this purpose.
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4
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Parrilla M, Detamornrat U, Domínguez-Robles J, Tunca S, Donnelly RF, De Wael K. Wearable Microneedle-Based Array Patches for Continuous Electrochemical Monitoring and Drug Delivery: Toward a Closed-Loop System for Methotrexate Treatment. ACS Sens 2023; 8:4161-4170. [PMID: 37856156 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c01381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Wearable devices based on microneedle (MN) technology have recently emerged as tools for in situ transdermal sensing or delivery in interstitial fluid (ISF). Particularly, MN-based electrochemical sensors allow the continuous monitoring of analytes in a minimally invasive manner through ISF. Exogenous small molecules found in ISF such as therapeutic drugs are ideal candidates for MN sensors due to their correlation with blood levels and their relevance for the optimal management of personalized therapies. Herein, a hollow MN array patch is modified with conductive pastes and functionalized with cross-linked chitosan to develop an MN-based voltammetric sensor for continuous monitoring of methotrexate (MTX). Interestingly, the chitosan coating avoids biofouling while enabling the adsorption of MTX at the electrode's surface for sensitive analysis. The MN sensor exhibits excellent analytical performance in vitro with protein-enriched artificial ISF and ex vivo under a Franz diffusion cell configuration. The MN sensor shows a linear range from 25 to 400 μM, which fits within the therapeutic range of high-dose MTX treatment for cancer patients and an excellent continuous operation for more than two days. Moreover, an iontophoretic hollow MN array patch is developed with the integration of both the anode and cathode in the single MN array patch. The ex vivo characterization demonstrates the transdermal on-demand drug delivery of MTX. Overall, the combination of both MN patches represents impactful progress in closed-loop systems for therapeutic drug management in disorders such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, or psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Parrilla
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Usanee Detamornrat
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, U.K
| | - Juan Domínguez-Robles
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, U.K
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, University of Seville, 97 Lisburn Road, Seville 41004, Spain
| | - Sensu Tunca
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ryan F Donnelly
- School of Pharmacy, Medical Biology Centre, Queen's University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, U.K
| | - Karolien De Wael
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
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5
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Dragan AM, Parrilla M, Sleegers N, Slosse A, Van Durme F, van Nuijs A, Oprean R, Cristea C, De Wael K. Investigating the electrochemical profile of methamphetamine to enable fast on-site detection in forensic analysis. Talanta 2023; 255:124208. [PMID: 36628903 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.124208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Methamphetamine (MA) is a synthetic psychoactive drug which is consumed both licitly and illicitly. In some countries it is prescribed for attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and short-term treatment of obesity. More often though, it is abused for its psychostimulant properties. Unfortunately, the spread and abuse of this synthetic drug have increased globally, being reported as the most widely consumed synthetic psychoactive drug in the world in 2019. Attempting to overcome the shortcomings of the currently used on-site methods for MA detection in suspected cargos, the present study explores the potential of electrochemical identification of MA by means of square wave voltammetry on disposable graphite screen-printed electrodes. Hence, the analytical characterization of the method was evaluated under optimal conditions exhibiting a linear range between 50 μM and 2.5 mM MA, a LOD of 16.7 μM, a LOQ of 50.0 μM and a sensitivity of 5.3 μA mM-1. Interestingly, two zones in the potential window were identified for the detection of MA, depending on its concentration in solution. Furthermore, the oxidative pathway of MA was elucidated employing liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry to understand the change in the electrochemical profile. Thereafter, the selectivity of the method towards MA in mixtures with other drugs of abuse as well as common adulterants/cutting agents was evaluated. Finally, the described method was employed for the analysis of MA in confiscated samples and compared with forensic methods, displaying its potential as a fast and easy-to-use method for on-site analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Maria Dragan
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Pasteur 6, 400349, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2010, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marc Parrilla
- A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2010, Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2010, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nick Sleegers
- A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2010, Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2010, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Amorn Slosse
- Drugs and Toxicology Department, National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), Vilvoordsesteenweg 100, 1120, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Durme
- Drugs and Toxicology Department, National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), Vilvoordsesteenweg 100, 1120, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alexander van Nuijs
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Radu Oprean
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Pasteur 6, 400349, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cecilia Cristea
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Pasteur 6, 400349, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Karolien De Wael
- A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2010, Antwerp, Belgium; NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2010, Antwerp, Belgium.
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6
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Van Echelpoel R, Parrilla M, Sleegers N, Shanmugam ST, van Nuijs AL, Slosse A, Van Durme F, De Wael K. Validated portable device for the qualitative and quantitative electrochemical detection of MDMA ready for on-site use. Microchem J 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2023.108693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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7
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Joosten F, Parrilla M, van Nuijs AL, Ozoemena KI, De Wael K. Electrochemical detection of illicit drugs in oral fluid: potential for forensic drug testing. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.141309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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8
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Heroin detection in a droplet hosted in a 3D printed support at the miniaturized electrified liquid-liquid interface. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18615. [PMID: 36329050 PMCID: PMC9633610 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21689-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple sensing protocols for the detection of illicit drugs are needed. Electrochemical sensing is especially attractive in this respect, as its cost together with the analytical accuracy aspires to replace still frequently used colorimetric tests. In this work, we have shown that the interfacial transfer of protonated heroin can be followed at the electrified water-1,2-dichloroethane interface. We have comprehensively studied the interfacial behavior of heroin alone and in the presence of its major and abundant cutting agents, caffeine and paracetamol. To maximally increase developed sensing protocol applicability we have designed and 3D printed a platform requiring only a few microliters of the aqueous and the organic phase. The proposed sensing platform was equipped with a cavity hosting a short section of Ag/AgCl electrode, up to 20 µL of the aqueous phase and the end of the micropipette tip being used as a casing of a fused silica capillary having 25 µm as the internal pore diameter. The volume of the organic phase was equal to around 5 µL and was present inside the micropipette tip. We have shown that under optimized conditions heroin can be detected in the presence of caffeine and paracetamol existing in a sample with 10,000 times excess over the analyte of interest. The calculated limit of detection equal to 1.3 µM, linear dynamic range spanning to at least 50 µM, good reproducibility, and very low volume of needed sample is fully in line with forensic demands.
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9
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Montiel NF, Parrilla M, Sleegers N, Van Durme F, van Nuijs AL, De Wael K. Electrochemical sensing of amphetamine-type stimulants (pre)-precursors to fight against the illicit production of synthetic drugs. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.141446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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10
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Paraformaldehyde-coated electrochemical sensor for improved on-site detection of amphetamine in street samples. Microchem J 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2022.107518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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11
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Yence M, Cetinkaya A, Kaya SI, Ozkan SA. Recent Developments in the Sensitive Electrochemical Assay of Common Opioid Drugs. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2022; 54:882-895. [PMID: 35853096 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2022.2099732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Opioids are a class of drugs used to treat moderate to severe pain and have short-term adverse effects. Nevertheless, they are considered necessary for pain management. However, well-known hazards are connected with an opioid prescription, such as overuse, addiction, and overdose deaths. For example, the death rate from opioid analgesic poisoning in the USA approximately doubled, owing to the overuse and addiction of opioid analgesics. Also, opioids are a very important group of analytes in forensic chemistry, so it is necessary to use reliable, fast, and sensitive analytical tools to determine opioid analgesics. This review focuses on the opioid overdose crisis, the properties of commonly used opioid drugs, their mechanism, effects, and some chromatographic and spectroscopic detection methods are explained briefly. Then most essentially recent developments covering the last ten years in the sensitive electrochemical methods of common opioid analgesics, their innovations and features, and future research directions are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Yence
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Cetinkaya
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - S Irem Kaya
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Gulhane Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sibel A Ozkan
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
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12
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Kozak J, Tyszczuk-Rotko K, Wójciak M, Sowa I, Rotko M. Electrochemically Pretreated Sensor Based on Screen-Printed Carbon Modified with Pb Nanoparticles for Determination of Testosterone. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15144948. [PMID: 35888414 PMCID: PMC9320313 DOI: 10.3390/ma15144948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Testosterone (TST), despite its good properties, may be harmful to the human organism and the environment. Therefore, monitoring biological fluids and environmental samples is important. An electrochemically pretreated screen-printed carbon sensor modified with Pb nanoparticles (pSPCE/PbNPs) was successfully prepared and used for the determination of TST. The surface morphology and electrochemical properties of unmodified and modified sensors were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Selective determinations of TST at the pSPCE/PbNPs were carried out by differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdSV, EPb dep.and TST acc. of −1.1 V, t Pb dep.and TST acc. of 120 s, ΔEA of 50 mV, ν of 175 mV s−1, and tm of 5 ms) in a solution containing 0.075 mol L−1 acetate buffer of pH = 4.6 ± 0.1, and 7.5 × 10−5 mol L−1 Pb(NO3)2. The analytical signal obtained at the potential around −1.42 V (vs. silver pseudo-reference electrode) is related to the reduction process of TST adsorbed onto the electrode surface. The use of pSPCE/PbNPs allows obtaining a very low limit of TST detection (2.2 × 10−12 mol L−1) and wide linear ranges of the calibration graph (1.0 × 10−11–1.0 × 10−10, 1.0 × 10−10–2.0 × 10−9, and 2.0 × 10−9–2.0 × 10−8 mol L−1). The pSPCE/PbNPs were successfully applied for the determination of TST in reference material of human urine and wastewater purified in a sewage treatment plant without preliminary preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jędrzej Kozak
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, 20-031 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (M.R.)
| | - Katarzyna Tyszczuk-Rotko
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, 20-031 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (M.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Magdalena Wójciak
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.W.); (I.S.)
| | - Ireneusz Sowa
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (M.W.); (I.S.)
| | - Marek Rotko
- Institute of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, 20-031 Lublin, Poland; (J.K.); (M.R.)
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13
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de Jong M, Van Echelpoel R, Langley AR, Eliaerts J, van den Berg J, De Wilde M, Somers N, Samyn N, De Wael K. Real-time electrochemical screening of cocaine in lab and field settings with automatic result generation. Drug Test Anal 2022; 14:1471-1481. [PMID: 35460207 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This work presents the results of a novel application for the fast on-site screening of cocaine and its main cutting agents in suspicious and confiscated samples. The methodology behind the novel application consists of portable electrochemical detection coupled with a peak-recognition algorithm for automated result output generation, validated both in laboratory and field settings. Currently used field tests, predominantly colorimetric tests, are lacking accuracy, often giving false positive or negative results. This presses the need for alternative approaches to field testing. By combining portable electrochemical approaches with peak-recognition algorithms, an accuracy of 98.4% concerning the detection of cocaine was achieved on a set of 374 powder samples. In addition, the approach was tested on multiple 'smuggled', colored cocaine powders and cocaine mixtures in solid and liquid states, typically in matrices such as charcoal, syrup and clothing. Despite these attempts to hide cocaine, our approach succeeded in detecting cocaine during on-site screening scenarios. This feature presents an advantage over colorimetric and optical detection techniques, which can fail with colored sample matrices. This enhanced accuracy on smuggled samples will lead to increased efficiency in confiscation procedures in the field, thus significantly reducing societal economic and safety concerns and highlighting the potential for electrochemical approaches in on-the-spot identification of drugs of abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mats de Jong
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,NANOlab Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Robin Van Echelpoel
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,NANOlab Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Amelia R Langley
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,NANOlab Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joy Eliaerts
- Drugs and Toxicology Department, National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jorrit van den Berg
- Team Illicit Drugs, The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Mark De Wilde
- Douane en Accijnzen Antwerpen, FOD Financiën, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Norbert Somers
- Douane en Accijnzen Antwerpen, FOD Financiën, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Nele Samyn
- Drugs and Toxicology Department, National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karolien De Wael
- Department of Bioscience Engineering, A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,NANOlab Centre of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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14
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Tyszczuk-Rotko K, Kozak J, Czech B. Screen-Printed Voltammetric Sensors-Tools for Environmental Water Monitoring of Painkillers. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:s22072437. [PMID: 35408052 PMCID: PMC9003516 DOI: 10.3390/s22072437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic production and usage of pharmaceuticals, mainly painkillers, indicates the growing problem of environmental contamination. Therefore, the monitoring of pharmaceutical concentrations in environmental samples, mostly aquatic, is necessary. This article focuses on applying screen-printed voltammetric sensors for the voltammetric determination of painkillers residues, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol, and tramadol in environmental water samples. The main advantages of these electrodes are simplicity, reliability, portability, small instrumental setups comprising the three electrodes, and modest cost. Moreover, the electroconductivity, catalytic activity, and surface area can be easily improved by modifying the electrode surface with carbon nanomaterials, polymer films, or electrochemical activation.
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15
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Rapid On-Site Detection of Illicit Drugs in Smuggled Samples with a Portable Electrochemical Device. CHEMOSENSORS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors10030108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The smuggling of illicit drugs urges the development of new tools for rapid on-site identification in cargos. Current methods rely on presumptive color tests and portable spectroscopic techniques. However, these methods sometimes exhibit inaccurate results due to commonly used cutting agents, the colorful nature of the sample or because the drugs are smuggled in common goods. Interestingly, electrochemical sensors can deal with these specific problems. Herein, an electrochemical device is presented that uses affordable screen-printed electrodes for the electrochemical profiling of several illicit drugs by square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The identification of the illicit compound is based on the oxidation potential of the analyte. Hence, a library of electrochemical profiles is built upon the analysis of illicit drugs and common cutting agents. This library allows the design of a tailor-made script that enables the identification of each drug through a user-friendly interface (laptop or mobile phone). Importantly, the electrochemical test is compared by analyzing 48 confiscated samples with other portable devices based on Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as well as a laboratory standard method (i.e., gas chromatography–mass spectrometry). Overall, the electrochemical results, obtained through the analysis of different samples from confiscated cargos at an end-user site, present a promising alternative to current methods, offering low-cost and rapid testing in the field.
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16
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Thiruvottriyur Shanmugam S, Van Echelpoel R, Boeye G, Eliaerts J, Samanipour M, Ching HYV, Florea A, Van Doorslaer S, Van Durme F, Samyn N, Parrilla M, De Wael K. Towards Developing a Screening Strategy for Ecstasy: Revealing the Electrochemical Profile. ChemElectroChem 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.202101198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Thiruvottriyur Shanmugam
- A-Sense Lab Department of Bioscience Engineering University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
| | - Robin Van Echelpoel
- A-Sense Lab Department of Bioscience Engineering University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
| | - Griet Boeye
- A-Sense Lab Department of Bioscience Engineering University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
| | - Joy Eliaerts
- National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC) Vilvoordsesteenweg 100 1120 Brussels Belgium
| | - Mohammad Samanipour
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Biomedical Physics University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - H. Y. Vincent Ching
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Biomedical Physics University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Anca Florea
- A-Sense Lab Department of Bioscience Engineering University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
| | - Sabine Van Doorslaer
- Laboratory of Biophysics and Biomedical Physics University of Antwerp Universiteitsplein 1 2610 Wilrijk Belgium
| | - Filip Van Durme
- National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC) Vilvoordsesteenweg 100 1120 Brussels Belgium
| | - Nele Samyn
- National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC) Vilvoordsesteenweg 100 1120 Brussels Belgium
| | - Marc Parrilla
- A-Sense Lab Department of Bioscience Engineering University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
| | - Karolien De Wael
- A-Sense Lab Department of Bioscience Engineering University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
- NANOlab Center of Excellence University of Antwerp Groenenborgerlaan 171 2020 Antwerp Belgium
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17
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Dragan AM, Parrilla M, Feier B, Oprean R, Cristea C, De Wael K. Analytical techniques for the detection of amphetamine-type substances in different matrices: A comprehensive review. Trends Analyt Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trac.2021.116447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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18
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Tetracycline Antibiotics: Elucidating the Electrochemical Fingerprint and Oxidation Pathway. CHEMOSENSORS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors9070187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Herein, a complete study of the electrochemical behavior of the most commonly used tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) on unmodified carbon screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) is presented. In addition, the oxidation pathway of TCs on SPE is elucidated, for the first time, with liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Square wave voltammetry (SWV) was used to study the electrochemical fingerprint (EF) of the antibiotics shaping the different oxidation processes of the TCs in a pH range from 2 to 12. Their characteristic structure and subsequent EF offer the possibility of distinguishing this class of antibiotics from other types. Under the optimized parameters, calibration curves of tetracycline (TET), doxycycline (DOXY), oxytetracycline (OXY), and chlortetracycline (CHL) in a Britton Robinson buffer solution (pH 9) exhibited a linear range between 5 and 100 µM with excellent reproducibilities (RSDTET = 3.01%, RSDDOXY = 3.29%, RSDOXY = 9.78% and RSDCHL = 6.88% at 10 µM, N = 3) and limits of detection (LOD) of LODTET = 4.15 µM, LODDOXY = 2.14 µM, LODOXY = 3.07 µM and LODCHL = 4.15 µM. Furthermore, binary, tertiary, and complex mixtures of all TCs were analyzed with SWV to investigate the corresponding EF. A dual pH screening (pH 4 and pH 9), together with the use of a custom-made Matlab script for data treatment, allowed for the successful confirmation of a single presence of TCs in the unknown samples. Overall, this work presents a straightforward study of the electrochemical behavior of TCs in SPE, allowing for the future on-site identification of residues of tetracycline antibiotics in real samples.
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19
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Schram J, Parrilla M, Sleegers N, Van Durme F, van den Berg J, van Nuijs ALN, De Wael K. Electrochemical profiling and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry characterization of synthetic cathinones: From methodology to detection in forensic samples. Drug Test Anal 2021; 13:1282-1294. [PMID: 33624933 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of new psychoactive drugs in the market demands rapid and accurate tools for the on-site classification of illegal and legal compounds with similar structures. Herein, a novel method for the classification of synthetic cathinones (SCs) is presented based on their electrochemical profile. First, the electrochemical profile of five common SC (i.e., mephedrone, ethcathinone, methylone, butylone, and 4-chloro-alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone) is collected to build calibration curves using square wave voltammetry on graphite screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). Second, the elucidation of the oxidation pathways, obtained by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry, allows the pairing of the oxidation products to the SC electrochemical profile, providing a selective and robust classification. Additionally, the effect of common adulterants and illicit drugs on the electrochemical profile of the SC is explored. Interestingly, a cathodic pretreatment of the SPE allows the selective detection of each SC in presence of electroactive adulterants. Finally, the electrochemical approach is validated with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry by analyzing 26 confiscated samples from seizures and illegal webshops. Overall, the electrochemical method exhibits a successful classification of SC including structural derivatives, a crucial attribute in an ever-diversifying drug market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Schram
- AXES Research Group, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marc Parrilla
- AXES Research Group, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nick Sleegers
- AXES Research Group, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Filip Van Durme
- Drugs and Toxicology Department, National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jorrit van den Berg
- Team Illicit Drugs, The Netherlands Forensic Institute (NFI), The Hague, The Netherlands
| | | | - Karolien De Wael
- AXES Research Group, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,NANOlab Center of Excellence, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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