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Jurowski K, Niżnik Ł. Toxicity of the New Psychoactive Substance (NPS) Clephedrone (4-Chloromethcathinone, 4-CMC): Prediction of Toxicity Using In Silico Methods for Clinical and Forensic Purposes. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5867. [PMID: 38892053 PMCID: PMC11173054 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115867] [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] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
This study reports the first application of in silico methods to assess the toxicity of 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC), a novel psychoactive substance (NPS). Employing advanced toxicology in silico tools, it was possible to predict crucial aspects of the toxicological profile of 4-CMC, including acute toxicity (LD50), genotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, and its potential for endocrine disruption. The obtained results indicate significant acute toxicity with species-specific variability, moderate genotoxic potential suggesting the risk of DNA damage, and a notable cardiotoxicity risk associated with hERG channel inhibition. Endocrine disruption assessment revealed a low probability of 4-CMC interacting with estrogen receptor alpha (ER-α), suggesting minimal estrogenic activity. These insights, derived from in silico studies, are critical in advancing the understanding of 4-CMC properties in forensic and clinical toxicology. These initial toxicological findings provide a foundation for future research and aid in the formulation of risk assessment and management strategies in the context of the use and abuse of NPSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Jurowski
- Laboratory of Innovative Toxicological Research and Analyses, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College, Rzeszów University, Al. mjr. W. Kopisto 2a, 35-959 Rzeszów, Poland
- Department of Regulatory and Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Medical Expertise, Łódź, ul. Aleksandrowska 67/93, 91-205 Łódź, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Niżnik
- Department of Regulatory and Forensic Toxicology, Institute of Medical Expertise, Łódź, ul. Aleksandrowska 67/93, 91-205 Łódź, Poland;
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2
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de Faria LV, Macedo AA, Arantes LC, Matias TA, Ramos DLO, Richter EM, Dos Santos WTP, Muñoz RAA. Novel disposable and portable 3D-printed electrochemical apparatus for fast and selective screening of 25E-NBOH in forensic samples. Talanta 2024; 269:125476. [PMID: 38042144 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2023.125476] [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] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
The advent of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has caused enormous difficulty for legal control since they are rapidly commercialized, and their chemical structures are routinely altered. In this aspect, derivatives phenethylamines, such as 25E-NBOH, have received great attention in the forensic scenario. Hence, we propose portable and cost-effective (U$ 5.00) 3D-printed devices for the electrochemical screening of 25E-NBOH for the first time. The cell and all electrodes were printed using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene filament (insulating material) and conductive filament (graphite embedded in a polylactic acid matrix), respectively, both by the fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technique. The electrochemical apparatus enables micro-volume analysis (50-2000 μL), especially important for low sample volumes. A mechanistic route for the electrochemical oxidation of 25E-NBOH is proposed based on cyclic voltammetric data, which showed two oxidation processes around +0.75 V and +1.00 V and a redox pair between +0.2 and -0.2 V (vs. graphite ink pseudo-reference). A fast and sensitive square-wave voltammetry method was developed, which exhibited a linear working range from 0.85 to 5.1 μmoL-1, detection limit of 0.2 μmol L-1, and good intra-electrode precision (n = 10, RSD <5.3 %). Inter-electrode measurements (n = 3, RSD <9.8 %) also attested that the electrode production process is reproducible. Interference tests in the presence of other drugs frequently found in blotting paper indicated high selectivity of the electrochemical method for screening of 25E-NBOH. Screening analysis of blotting paper confirmed the presence of 25E-NBOH in the seized samples. Moreover, a recovery percentage close to 100 % was found for a spiked saliva sample, suggesting the method's usefulness for quantitative purposes aimed at information on recent drug use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas V de Faria
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, 38400-902, Brazil; Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Fluminense Federal University, 24020-141, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Anne A Macedo
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil
| | - Luciano C Arantes
- Forensic Chemistry and Physics Laboratory, Institute of Forensic Science, Civil Police of the Brazilian Federal District, Brasília, DF, 70610-907, Brazil
| | - Tiago A Matias
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, 38400-902, Brazil; Chemistry Department, Federal University of Espírito Santo - UFES, 29075-910, Vitória, ES, Brazil
| | - David L O Ramos
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, 38400-902, Brazil
| | - Eduardo M Richter
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, 38400-902, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology in Bioanalytics (INCT-Bio), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Wallans T P Dos Santos
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri, Diamantina, MG, 39100-000, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo A A Muñoz
- Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, 38400-902, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology in Bioanalytics (INCT-Bio), Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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3
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Shishkanova TV, Pospíšilová E, Trchová M, Broncová G. Zwitterionic oligomers of 3-aminobenzoic acid on screen-printed electrodes: structure, properties and forensic application. Analyst 2024; 149:1121-1131. [PMID: 38205618 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01700a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The popularity and rapid spread of new psychoactive substances is why there is an urgent need for their fast monitoring in saliva in the field with electrodes modified with a selective receptor. Oligomers of electrochemically oxidized 3-aminobenzoic acid that are deposited on the surface of a graphite screen-printed electrode (o-3ABA/G/SPE) is proposed as a selector for the analyte of forensic interest. The oligomeric structure and existence of the zwitterionic form of o-3ABA on the G/SPE surface was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry techniques. The equilibrium adsorption constants between o-3ABA and 2-aminoindane (primary amine: Kads(2-AI) = 5.31 × 104) and selected synthetic cathinones (secondary amine: Kads(butylone) = 6.12 × 105, tertiary amines: Kads(MDPV) = 3.41 × 104 and Kads(naphyrone) = 1.01 × 104) were estimated using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. The EIS technique was applied for determining a 1.0 μM concentration of 2-AI (RSD 3.5-4.0%) and butylone (RSD 4.9-6.4%) in the model and oral fluid samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana V Shishkanova
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic. eva.pospisilovavscht.cz
| | - Eva Pospíšilová
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic. eva.pospisilovavscht.cz
| | - Miroslava Trchová
- Central Laboratory, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriela Broncová
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic. eva.pospisilovavscht.cz
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4
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Dragan AM, Feier BG, Tertiș M, Bodoki E, Truta F, Ștefan MG, Kiss B, Van Durme F, De Wael K, Oprean R, Cristea C. Forensic Analysis of Synthetic Cathinones on Nanomaterials-Based Platforms: Chemometric-Assisted Voltametric and UPLC-MS/MS Investigation. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2393. [PMID: 37686901 PMCID: PMC10489959 DOI: 10.3390/nano13172393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic cathinones (SCs) are a group of new psychoactive substances often referred to as "legal highs" or "bath salts", being characterized by a dynamic change, new compounds continuously emerging on the market. This creates a lack of fast screening tests, making SCs a constant concern for law enforcement agencies. Herein, we present a fast and simple method for the detection of four SCs (alpha-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, N-ethylhexedrone, 4-chloroethcathinone, and 3-chloromethcathinone) based on their electrochemical profiles in a decentralized manner. In this regard, the voltametric characterization of the SCs was performed by cyclic and square wave voltammetry. The elucidation of the SCs redox pathways was successfully achieved using liquid chromatography coupled to (tandem) mass spectrometry. For the rational identification of the ideal experimental conditions, chemometric data processing was employed, considering two critical qualitative and quantitative variables: the type of the electrochemical platform and the pH of the electrolyte. The analytical figures of merit were determined on standard working solutions using the optimized method, which exhibited wide linear ranges and LODs suitable for confiscated sample screening. Finally, the performance of the method was evaluated on real confiscated samples, the resulting validation parameters being similar to those obtained with another portable device (i.e., Raman spectrometer).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana-Maria Dragan
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- A-Sense Lab, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2010 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Bogdan George Feier
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Mihaela Tertiș
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ede Bodoki
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Florina Truta
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Maria-Georgia Ștefan
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Béla Kiss
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Filip Van Durme
- Drugs and Toxicology Department, National Institute for Criminalistics and Criminology (NICC), Vilvoordsesteenweg 100, 1120 Brussels, Belgium
| | - 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
| | - Radu Oprean
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cecilia Cristea
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, 'Iuliu Hațieganu' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pasteur 6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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5
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Melo LMA, Arantes LC, Schaffel IF, Aranha LMS, Conceição NS, Lima CD, Marinho PA, Ferreira RQ, Dos Santos WTP. Electrochemical detection of mephedrone using a graphene screen-printed electrode: a new sensitive and selective approach to identify synthetic cathinones in forensic analysis. Analyst 2023; 148:1552-1561. [PMID: 36880972 DOI: 10.1039/d3an00065f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Mephedrone (MEP) is an illicit stimulant drug that belongs to the synthetic cathinone (SC) class, which has been widely used for recreational purposes and reported in forensic analysis. The preliminary identification of MEP and other SCs in seized samples is of great interest for forensic investigation and a fast and simple screening test for these drugs would be useful for on-site and in-house analyses. In this study, we present the electrochemical detection of MEP in forensic samples using, for the first time, independent redox processes of SCs on a graphene screen-printed electrode (SPE-GP). The proposed method for MEP detection on the SPE-GP was optimized in Britton-Robinson buffer solution (0.1 mol L-1) at pH 10.0 with adsorptive stripping differential pulse voltammetry (AdSDPV). The use of the SPE-GP with AdSDPV provides a wide linear range for MEP determination (2.6 to 112 μmol L-1) with a low limit of detection (LOD) (0.3 μmol L-1). The real surface area available for adsorption on the SPE-GP was estimated to be between 3.80 and 5.70 cm2, which provided high sensitivity for the proposed method. Furthermore, good stability of MEP electrochemical responses on the SPE-GP was obtained using the same or different electrodes (N = 3), with relative standard deviation (RSD) < 5.0% for both redox processes. Interference studies for a common adulterant (caffeine) and twelve other illicit drugs (phenethylamines, amphetamines, and other SCs) were performed with a highly selective response for MEP detection. Therefore, the SPE-GP with AdSDPV is demonstrated to be a selective and sensitive screening method to detect MEP and other SCs in forensic analysis, providing a fast and simple preliminary identification of these drugs in seized samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa M A Melo
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK, 39100000, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Luciano C Arantes
- Laboratório de Química e Física Forense, Instituto de Criminalística, Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal, 70610-907, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | - Izabela F Schaffel
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Campus Goiabeiras, 29075910, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Lívia M S Aranha
- Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK, 39100000, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Nathália S Conceição
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Campus Goiabeiras, 29075910, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Camila D Lima
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK, 39100000, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Pablo A Marinho
- Instituto de Criminalística, Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais, 30180-060, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Rafael Q Ferreira
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Campus Goiabeiras, 29075910, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Wallans T P Dos Santos
- Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK, 39100000, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil. .,Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK, 39100000, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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6
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Jiang X, Wu F, Huang X, He S, Han Q, Zhang Z, Liu W. Fabrication of a Molecularly-Imprinted-Polymer-Based Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for Electrochemical Sensing of New Psychoactive Substances. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:751. [PMID: 36839120 PMCID: PMC9958802 DOI: 10.3390/nano13040751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
As new psychoactive substances (commonly known as "the third generation drugs") have characteristics such as short-term emergence, rapid updating, and great social harmfulness, there is a large gap in the development of their detection methods. Herein, graphite oxide (GO) was first prepared and immobilized with a reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agent, then a new psychoactive substance (4-MEC) was chosen as a template, and then the surface RAFT polymerization of methacrylamide (MAAM) was carried out by using azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator and divinylbenzene (DVB) as a cross-linker. After the removal of the embedded template, graphene oxide modified by molecularly imprinted polymers (GO-MIPs) was finally obtained. Owing to the specific imprinted cavities for 4-MEC, the satisfactory selectivity and stability of the GO-MIP nanocomposite have been demonstrated. The GO-MIP nanocomposite was then used to fabricate the electrochemical sensor, which displayed a high selectivity in detecting 4-MEC over a linear concentration range between 5 and 60 μg mL-1 with a detection limit of 0.438 μg mL-1. As a result, the GO-MIPs sensor developed an accurate, efficient, convenient, and sensitive method for public security departments to detect illicit drugs and new psychoactive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Jiang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Zhongshan North No. 1 Road, Shanghai 200083, China
| | - Fangsheng Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Zhongshan North No. 1 Road, Shanghai 200083, China
| | - Xiaoyu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Self-Assembly Chemistry for Organic Functional Molecules, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Shan He
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Zhongshan North No. 1 Road, Shanghai 200083, China
| | - Qiaoying Han
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Zhongshan North No. 1 Road, Shanghai 200083, China
| | - Zihua Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Zhongshan North No. 1 Road, Shanghai 200083, China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Crime Scene Evidence, Shanghai Research Institute of Criminal Science and Technology, Zhongshan North No. 1 Road, Shanghai 200083, China
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7
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Kadhim MM, Ihsan Mahmood Helmi Al-Bayati A, Taha A, Abdullaha SA, Jassim Khalil M, Mahdi Rheima A, Hachim SK. Pristine, Co, Rh, and, Ir decorated aluminum phosphide nano-sheet semiconductors as viable chemical sensors for cathinone. INORG CHEM COMMUN 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2022.110305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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8
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Lugo Vargas AF, Quevedo Buitrago WG, Chaves Silva DC, Martínes Suárez JF. Voltammetric Responses of a CYP2D6‐Based Biosensor to 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and the Synthetic Cathinone α‐pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α‐PVP). ChemistrySelect 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202202748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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9
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Sensing behavior of porous B6N6 boron nitride covalent organic framework toward cathinone drugs: A DFT Study. INORG CHEM COMMUN 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inoche.2022.110205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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10
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Li Z, Shen F, Mishra RK, Wang Z, Zhao X, Zhu Z. Advances of Drugs Electroanalysis Based on Direct Electrochemical Redox on Electrodes: A Review. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2022; 54:269-314. [PMID: 35575782 DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2022.2072679] [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: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The strong development of mankind is inseparable from the proper use of drugs, and the electroanalytical research of drugs occupies an important position in the field of analytical chemistry. This review mainly elaborates the research progress of drugs electroanalysis based on direct electrochemical redox on various electrodes for the recent decade from 2011 to 2021. At first, we summarize some frequently used electrochemical data processing and electrochemical mechanism research derivation methods in the literature. Then, according to the drug therapeutic and application/usage purposes, the research progress of drugs electrochemical analysis is classified and discussed, where we focus on drugs electrochemical reaction mechanism. At the same time, the comparisons of electrochemical sensing performance of the drugs on various electrodes from recent studies are listed, so that readers can more intuitively compare and understand the electroanalytical sensing performance of each modified electrode for each of the drug. Finally, this review discusses the shortcomings and prospects of the drugs electroanalysis based on direct electrochemical redox research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanhong Li
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Feichen Shen
- School of Energy and Materials, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rupesh K Mishra
- Identify Sensors Biologics at Bindley Bioscience Center, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- School of Material Science and Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | - Zifeng Wang
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueling Zhao
- School of Energy and Materials, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhigang Zhu
- School of Health Science and Engineering, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
- School of Energy and Materials, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, China
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11
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Brown K, Dennany L. Electrochemiluminescence sensors and forensic investigations: a viable technique for drug detection? PURE APPL CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/pac-2021-1204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are today considered one of the major ticking public health time bombs in regard to drug abuse. The inability to identify these substances with current screening methods, sees their distribution remain uninterrupted and contributes to the high death rates amongst users. To tackle this problem, it is vital that new robust screening methods are developed, addressing the limitation of those currently in place, namely colour subjectivity and lack of compatibility with the complex matrices these substances may be found within. To this avail, electrochemical methods have been assessed. These low cost and extremely portable sensors have been successfully applied for the direct detection of a broad range of compounds of interest in a range of matrices including, herbal material, commercial drinks and biological fluids (serum, saliva, sweat and urine). With their high versatility, gifted through a significant degree of flexibility in regard to electrode material a range of sensors have to date been reported. In this review the various electrochemical sensors developed to date for NPS detection will be compared and contrasted, with a special focus upon those utilising electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Brown
- Pure and Applied Chemistry , University of Strathclyde , Technology & Innovation Centre, 99 George Street , G1 1RD Glasgow , UK
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12
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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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13
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Ameen A, Brown K, Dennany L. Can synthetic cannabinoids be reliably screened with electrochemistry? An assessment of the ability to screen for synthetic cannabinoids STS-135 and BB-22 within a single sample matrix. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2022.116141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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14
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Musiał J, Czarny J, Gadzała-Kopciuch R. Overview of analytical methods for determining novel psychoactive substances, drugs and their metabolites in biological samples. Crit Rev Toxicol 2022; 52:239-258. [PMID: 36040410 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2022.2091424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed a growing in interest in psychoactive substances, particularly those available in e-commerce. These have led to an increase in the number of drug-related poisonings, deaths, and road accidents. Illegal drugs are available on an unprecedented scale and cause previously unknown adverse effects, which creates a challenge for analysts to find rapid methods for identifying these substances and taking appropriate action in the shortest possible time. New psychoactive substances (NPSs) can be lethal at very low concentrations, which give particularly serious cause for concern. These drugs are easily accessible and often regarded (or claimed) to be safe, which encourages many people, in particular young people, to try them. The widespread use of these substances is compounded by the awareness that they are difficult to detect with the existing rapid screening tests. Simple, fast, sensitive, and specific methods for determining the largest possible number of black-market psychoactive substances and their metabolites are therefore essential. Such methods will facilitate treatment and increase the effectiveness of measures aiming to reduce drug addiction. The objective of this review article was to critically compare the most commonly used analytical methods for determining NPS and their metabolites in biological material, with special emphasis on the sample preparation process, and to highlight the possibilities offered by the existing analytical methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jadwiga Musiał
- Institute of Forensic Genetics, Bydgoszcz, Poland.,Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland
| | - Jakub Czarny
- Institute of Forensic Genetics, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Renata Gadzała-Kopciuch
- Department of Environmental Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Chemistry, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Toruń, Poland
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15
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Arrieiro MO, Arantes LC, Moreira DA, Pimentel DM, Lima CD, Costa LM, Verly RM, dos Santos WT. Electrochemical detection of eutylone using screen-printed electrodes: Rapid and simple screening method for application in forensic samples. Electrochim Acta 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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16
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Hong C, Dong Y, Zhu R, Yan Y, Shen X, Pedersen-Bjergaard S, Huang C. Effect of sample matrices on supported liquid membrane: Efficient electromembrane extraction of cathinones from biological samples. Talanta 2021; 240:123175. [PMID: 34972062 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.123175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In this work, the effect of sample matrix on electromembrane extraction (EME) was investigated for the first time using cathinones (log P < 1.0) as polar basic model analytes. Ten supported liquid membranes (SLMs) were tested for EME from spiked buffer solutions, urine, and whole blood samples, respectively. For buffer solutions, SLMs containing aromatic solvents provided higher EME recovery than non-aromatic solvents, which confirmed the significance of cation-π interactions for EME of basic substances. Interestingly, when applied to urine and whole blood samples, aromatic SLMs were less efficient, while non-aromatic SLMs containing abundant hydrogen-bond acidity/basicity were efficient. These observations were explained by SLM fouling, and the antifouling property of the SLM was clearly dependent on the nature of the SLM solvent. Accordingly, a binary SLM containing aromatic 1-ethyl-2-nitrobenzene (ENB) and non-aromatic 1-undecanol (1:1 v/v) was developed. This binary SLM was not prone to fouling, and provided high recoveries of cathinones from urine and whole blood. EME based on this SLM was optimized and evaluated in combination with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and the linear ranges with R2 ≥ 0.9903 for cathinones in whole blood and urine were 5-200 ng/mL and 1-200 ng/mL, respectively. The LOD and LOQ of cathinones were ranged from 0.12 to 0.54 ng/mL and 0.38-1.78 ng/mL, respectively. The repeatability and accuracy bias at three levels were ≤11% and within 10%, respectively. In addition, the matrix effect ranged from 88% to 118% was also in compliance with guidelines for bioanalytical method validation provided by the European Medicines Agency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changbao Hong
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road #13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Ying Dong
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road #13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Ruiqin Zhu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road #13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yibo Yan
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road #13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xiantao Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Environment Health (Incubation), Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environment and Health (Wuhan), Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road #13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Stig Pedersen-Bjergaard
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1068 Blindern, 0316, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Chuixiu Huang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hangkong Road #13, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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McNeill L, Megson D, Linton PE, Norrey J, Bradley L, Sutcliffe OB, Shaw KJ. Lab-on-a-Chip approaches for the detection of controlled drugs, including new psychoactive substances: A systematic review. Forensic Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2021.100370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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18
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Rocha RG, Silva IC, Arantes LC, Stefano JS, Lima CD, Melo LM, Munoz RA, dos Santos WT, Richter EM. Simple and rapid electrochemical detection of 1-benzylpiperazine on carbon screen-printed electrode. Microchem J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2021.106282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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19
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Chen YC, Hong SW, Wu HH, Wang YL, Chen YF. Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1789. [PMID: 34361175 PMCID: PMC8308440 DOI: 10.3390/nano11071789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
We developed a method based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and a sample pretreatment process for rapid, sensitive, reproducible, multiplexed, and low-cost detection of illegal drugs in urine. The abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has become an increasingly serious problem in many countries. However, immunoassay-based screening kits for NPS are usually not available because of the lack of corresponding antibodies. SERS has a great potential for rapid detection of NPS because it can simultaneously detect multiple kinds of drugs without the use of antibodies. To achieve highly sensitive SERS detection of drugs, sodium bromide was first employed to induce the rapid formation of Ag nanoclusters by aggregating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the extracted sample solution. SERS measurements were performed immediately after the sample pretreatment without incubation. The three-dimensional SERS hot spots were believed to form significantly within the nanoclusters, providing strong SERS enhancement effects. The displacement of citrate molecules on the surfaces of the AgNPs by bromide ions helped increase the adsorption of drug molecules, increasing their areal density. We demonstrated the simultaneous detection of two kinds of NPS, methcathinone and 4-methylmethcathinone, in urine at a concentration as low as 0.01 ppm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Chu Chen
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (Y.-C.C.); (S.-W.H.); (H.-H.W.)
| | - Shang-Wen Hong
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (Y.-C.C.); (S.-W.H.); (H.-H.W.)
| | - Huang-Hesin Wu
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (Y.-C.C.); (S.-W.H.); (H.-H.W.)
| | - Yuh-Lin Wang
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, Taiwan;
| | - Yih-Fan Chen
- Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; (Y.-C.C.); (S.-W.H.); (H.-H.W.)
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20
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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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21
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Shishkanova TV, Štěpánková N, Tlustý M, Tobrman T, Jurásek B, Kuchař M, Trchová M, Fitl P, Vrňata M. Electrochemically oxidized 15-crown-5 substituted thiophene and host-guest interaction with new psychoactive substances. Electrochim Acta 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2021.137862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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22
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Local conversion of redox inactive molecules into redox active ones: A formaldehyde based strategy for the electrochemical detection of illicit drugs containing primary and secondary amines. Electrochim Acta 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.137515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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23
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Electrochemical detection of the synthetic cathinone 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone using carbon screen-printed electrodes: A fast, simple and sensitive screening method for forensic samples. Electrochim Acta 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2020.136728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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24
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25
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Potentiometric Signal Transduction for Selective Determination of 1-(3-Chlorophenyl)piperazine “Legal Ecstasy” Through Biomimetic Interaction Mechanism. CHEMOSENSORS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/chemosensors7030046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine (mCPP) is a wide spread new psychoactive substance produces stimulant and hallucinogenic effects similar to those sought from ecstasy. Hence, in the recent years, mCPP has been introduced by the organized crime through the darknet as a part of the illicit ecstasy market with a variable complex profile of pharmacologically active substances that pose problematic risk patterns among people who take these seized products. Accordingly, the design of selective sensors for the determination of mCPP is a very important demand. In this respect, a supramolecular architecture; [Na(15-crown-5)][BPh4] from the assembly of 15-crown-5 and sodium tetraphenylboron has been utilized as an ionophore, for the first time in the selective recognition of mCPP in conjunction with potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate and dioctylphthalate through polymeric membrane ion sensors. The ionophore exhibited a strong binding affinity that resulted in a high sensitivity with a slope closed to the ideal Nernstian value; 58.9 ± 0.43 mV/decade, a larger dynamic range from 10−6 to 10−2 M, a lower limit of detection down to 5.0 × 10−7 M and a fast response time of 5 s. Very important also is it was afforded excellent selectivity towards mCPP over psychoactive substances of major concern, providing a potentially useful system for the determination of mCPP in the illicit market. On comparison with the natural β-cyclodextrin as an ionophore, it exhibited more sensitivity and selectivity estimated to be the superior.
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26
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Yen YT, Lin YS, Chen TY, Chyueh SC, Chang HT. Carbon dots functionalized papers for high-throughput sensing of 4-chloroethcathinone and its analogues in crime sites. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:191017. [PMID: 31598318 PMCID: PMC6774952 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Sensitive and selective assays are demanded for quantitation of new psychoactive substances such as 4-chloroethcathinone that is a π-conjugated keto compound. Carbon dots (C-dots) prepared from L-arginine through a hydrothermal route have been used for quantitation of 4-chloroethcathinone in aqueous solution and on C-dot-functionalized papers (CDFPs). To prepare CDFPs, chromatography papers, each with a pattern of 8 × 12 circles (wells), are first fabricated through a solid-ink printing method and then the C-dots are coated into the wells. π-Conjugated keto or ester compounds induce photoluminescence quenching of C-dots through an electron transfer process. At pH 7.0, the CDFPs allow screening of abused drugs such as cocaine, heroin and cathinones. Because of poor solubility of heroin and cocaine at pH 11.0, the C-dot probe is selective for cathinones. The C-dots in aqueous solution and CDFPs at pH 11.0 allow quantitation of 4-chloroethcathinone down to 1.73 mM and 0.14 mM, respectively. Our sensing system consisting of a portable UV-lamp, a smartphone and a low-cost CDFP has been used to detect cathinones, cocaine and heroin at pH 7.0, showing its potential for screening of these drugs in crime sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Te Yen
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Forensic Science, Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Xindian Dist, New Taipei City 23149, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Syuan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ting-Yueh Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Xindian Dist, New Taipei City 23149, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - San-Chong Chyueh
- Department of Forensic Science, Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Xindian Dist, New Taipei City 23149, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Huan-Tsung Chang
- Department of Forensic Science, Investigation Bureau, Ministry of Justice, Xindian Dist, New Taipei City 23149, Taiwan, Republic of China
- Department of Chemistry, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli District, Taoyuan City 32023, Taiwan, Republic of China
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27
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Yen YT, Chen TY, Chen CY, Chang CL, Chyueh SC, Chang HT. A Photoluminescent Colorimetric Probe of Bovine Serum Albumin-Stabilized Gold Nanoclusters for New Psychoactive Substances: Cathinone Drugs in Seized Street Samples. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 19:E3554. [PMID: 31443204 PMCID: PMC6721205 DOI: 10.3390/s19163554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Screening of illicit drugs for new psychoactive substances-namely cathinone-at crime scenes is in high demand. A dual-emission bovine serum albumin-stabilized gold nanoclusters probe was synthesized and used for quantitation and screening of 4-chloromethcathinone and cathinone analogues in an aqueous solution. The photoluminescent (PL) color of the bovine serum albumin-stabilized Au nanoclusters (BSA-Au NCs) probe solution changed from red to dark blue during the identification of cathinone drugs when excited using a portable ultraviolet light-emitting diodes lamp (365 nm). This probe solution allows the PL color-changing point and limit of detection down to 10.0 and 0.14 mM, respectively, for 4-chloromethcathinone. The phenomenon of PL color-changing of BSA-Au NCs was attributed to its PL band at 650 nm, quenching through an electron transfer mechanism. The probe solution was highly specific to cathinone drugs, over other popular illicit drugs, including heroin, cocaine, ketamine, and methamphetamine. The practicality of this BSA-Au NCs probe was assessed by using it to screen illicit drugs seized by law enforcement officers. All 20 actual cases from street and smuggling samples were validated using this BSA-Au NCs probe solution and then confirmed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results reveal this BSA-Au NCs probe solution is practical for screening cathinone drugs at crime scenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Te Yen
- Department of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, Xindian District, New Taipei City 23149, Taiwan.
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Ting-Yueh Chen
- Department of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, Xindian District, New Taipei City 23149, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Chen
- Department of Chemistry, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Lun Chang
- Department of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, Xindian District, New Taipei City 23149, Taiwan
| | - San-Chong Chyueh
- Department of Forensic Science, Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau, Xindian District, New Taipei City 23149, Taiwan
| | - Huan-Tsung Chang
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
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28
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Belchior de Andrade AF, Gonzalez-Rodriguez J. Electroanalytical identification of 25I-NBOH and 2C-I via differential pulse voltammetry: a rapid and sensitive screening method to avoid misidentification. Analyst 2019; 144:2965-2972. [DOI: 10.1039/c9an00062c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
25I-NBOH is a new potent serotonin 5-HT2A receptor agonist recently identified in blotter paper seizures.
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29
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de Araujo WR, Cardoso TM, da Rocha RG, Santana MH, Muñoz RA, Richter EM, Paixão TR, Coltro WK. Portable analytical platforms for forensic chemistry: A review. Anal Chim Acta 2018; 1034:1-21. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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30
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Cumba LR, Foster CW, Brownson DAC, Smith JP, Iniesta J, Thakur B, do Carmo DR, Banks CE. Can the mechanical activation (polishing) of screen-printed electrodes enhance their electroanalytical response? Analyst 2018; 141:2791-9. [PMID: 26883598 DOI: 10.1039/c6an00167j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical activation (polishing) of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) is explored and shown to exhibit an improved voltammetric response (in specific cases) when polished with either commonly available alumina slurry or diamond spray. Proof-of-concept is demonstrated for the electrochemical sensing of nitrite where an increase in the voltammetric current is found using both polishing protocols, exhibiting an improved limit of detection (3σ) and a two-fold increase in the electroanalytical sensitivity compared to the respective un-polished counterpart. It is found that mechanical activation/polishing increases the C/O ratio which significantly affects inner-sphere electrochemical probes only (whereas outer-sphere systems remain unaffected). Mechanical activation/polishing has the potential to be a simple pre-treatment technique that can be extended and routinely applied towards other analytes for an observable improvement in the electroanalytical response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loanda R Cumba
- Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Física e Química. Av. Brasil Centro, 56 CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil and Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Christopher W Foster
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Dale A C Brownson
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Jamie P Smith
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Jesus Iniesta
- Physical Chemistry Department and Institute of Electrochemistry, University of Alicante, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain
| | - Bhawana Thakur
- Chemistry Division, Modular Labs, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay 400085, India
| | - Devaney R do Carmo
- Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira UNESP - Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Física e Química. Av. Brasil Centro, 56 CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, SP, Brazil
| | - Craig E Banks
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
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31
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de Jesus Guedes T, Pio dos Santos WT. Fast and Simple Electrochemical Analysis Kit for Quality Control of Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs. ELECTROANAL 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/elan.201800108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago de Jesus Guedes
- Departamento de Química; Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK; 39100-000 Diamantina, MG Brasil
| | - Wallans Torres Pio dos Santos
- Departamento de Farmácia; Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Campus JK; 39100-000 Diamantina, MG Brasil
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32
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Couto RAS, Gonçalves LM, Carvalho F, Rodrigues JA, Rodrigues CMP, Quinaz MB. The Analytical Challenge in the Determination of Cathinones, Key-Players in the Worldwide Phenomenon of Novel Psychoactive Substances. Crit Rev Anal Chem 2018; 48:372-390. [DOI: 10.1080/10408347.2018.1439724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A. S. Couto
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Moreira Gonçalves
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Félix Carvalho
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - José A. Rodrigues
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M. Beatriz Quinaz
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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33
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Khavani M, Kalantarinezhad R, Izadyar M. A joint QM/MD study on α-, β- and γ-cyclodextrins in selective complexation with cathinone. Supramol Chem 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/10610278.2018.1444764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Khavani
- Computational Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Izadyar
- Computational Chemistry Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
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34
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Carlsson A, Sandgren V, Svensson S, Konradsson P, Dunne S, Josefsson M, Dahlén J. Prediction of designer drugs: Synthesis and spectroscopic analysis of synthetic cathinone analogs that may appear on the Swedish drug market. Drug Test Anal 2018; 10:1076-1098. [PMID: 29426062 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The use of hyphenated analytical techniques in forensic drug screening enables simultaneous identification of a wide range of different compounds. However, the appearance of drug seizures containing new substances, mainly new psychoactive substances (NPS), is steadily increasing. These new and other already known substances often possess structural similarities and consequently they exhibit spectral data with slight differences. This situation has made the criteria that ensure indubitable identification of compounds increasingly important. In this work, 6 new synthetic cathinones that have not yet appeared in any Swedish drug seizures were synthesized. Their chemical structures were similar to those of already known cathinone analogs of which 42 were also included in the study. Hence, a total of 48 synthetic cathinones making up sets of homologous and regioisomeric compounds were used to challenge the capabilities of various analytical techniques commonly applied in forensic drug screening, ie, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (GC-FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Special attention was paid to the capabilities of GC-MS and GC-FTIR to distinguish between the synthetic cathinones and the results showed that neither GC-MS nor GC-FTIR alone can successfully differentiate between all synthetic cathinones. However, the 2 techniques proved to be complementary and their combined use is therefore beneficial. For example, the structural homologs were better differentiated by GC-MS, while GC-FTIR performed better for the regioisomers. Further, new spectroscopic data of the synthesized cathinone analogs is hereby presented for the forensic community. The synthetic work also showed that cathinone reference compounds can be produced in few reaction steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Carlsson
- Swedish National Forensic Centre - NFC, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Veronica Sandgren
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Stefan Svensson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Peter Konradsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Simon Dunne
- Swedish National Forensic Centre - NFC, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Martin Josefsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
- Department of Forensic Genetics and Forensic Toxicology, National Board of Forensic Medicine, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Dahlén
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Sweden
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35
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Mohamed MA, Atty SA, Yehia AM, Foster CW, Banks CE, Allam NK. Electrochemical Determination of the Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor, Dapoxetine, Using Cesium-Gold Nanoparticles. ACS OMEGA 2017; 2:6628-6635. [PMID: 30023526 PMCID: PMC6044806 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b01193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Cesium-gold (Cs-Au) nanoparticles are shown to be analytically advantageous for the electroanalytical sensing of dapoxetine (DPX), a serotonin reuptake inhibitor used for the treatment of premature ejaculation. The Cs-Au nanoparticles are electrically wired and supported upon mass producible, economical screen-printed electrochemical sensing platforms and are characterized electrochemically (cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and physiochemically (field emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray analysis). The face-centered design was applied to optimize the significant experimental factors by using square wave voltammetry. The Cs-Au-based sensor is found to exhibit a large linear range (10-7 to 10-4 M) with a good analytical linearity with the limits of detection and quantification corresponding to 2.50 × 10-10 and 8.33 × 10-8 M, respectively. The developed sensor was successfully applied in the quantification of DPX in the presence of sildenafil, both of which are commonly found within combined dose tablet pharmaceutical formulations. The proposed DPX electrochemical Cs-Au-based sensor has the advantages of being single-shot and disposable and is shown to be successful in determining DPX in pharmaceutical formulations, human urine, and serum samples with acceptable recoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona A. Mohamed
- Pharmaceutical
Chemistry Department, National Organization
for Drug Control and Research [NODCAR], Pyramids Ave, P.O. Box 29, Giza, Egypt
| | - Shimaa A. Atty
- Pharmaceutical
Chemistry Department, National Organization
for Drug Control and Research [NODCAR], Pyramids Ave, P.O. Box 29, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ali M. Yehia
- Analytical
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Christopher W. Foster
- Faculty
of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan
University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, U.K.
| | - Craig E. Banks
- Faculty
of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan
University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, U.K.
| | - Nageh K. Allam
- Energy
Materials Laboratory, School of Sciences and Engineering, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
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36
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Yoho JN, Geier B, Grigsby CC, Hagen JA, Chávez JL, Kelley-Loughnane N. Cross-Reactive Plasmonic Aptasensors for Controlled Substance Identification. SENSORS 2017; 17:s17091935. [PMID: 28832512 PMCID: PMC5620944 DOI: 10.3390/s17091935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we developed an assay to determine if an arbitrary white powder is a controlled substance, given the plasmonic response of aptamer-gold nanoparticle conjugates (Apt-AuNPs). Toward this end, we designed Apt-AuNPs with specific a response to common controlled substances without cross reactivity to chemicals typically used as fillers in street formulations. Plasmonic sensor variation was shown to produce unique data fingerprints for each chemical analyzed, supporting the application of multivariate statistical techniques to annotate unknown samples by chemical similarity. Importantly, the assay takes less than fifteen minutes to run, and requires only a few micrograms of the material, making the proposed assay easily deployable in field operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua N Yoho
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Airman Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA.
- UES, Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia Road, Dayton, OH 45432, USA.
| | - Brian Geier
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Airman Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA.
- UES, Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia Road, Dayton, OH 45432, USA.
| | - Claude C Grigsby
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Airman Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA.
| | - Joshua A Hagen
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Airman Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA.
| | - Jorge L Chávez
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Airman Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA.
- UES, Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia Road, Dayton, OH 45432, USA.
| | - Nancy Kelley-Loughnane
- 711th Human Performance Wing, Airman Systems Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH 45433, USA.
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37
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Slepchenko GB, Gindullina TM, Nekhoroshev SV. Capabilities of the electrochemical methods in the determination of narcotic and psychotropic drugs in forensic chemistry materials. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s1061934817070127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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38
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Rowe WF, Marginean I, Carnes S, Lurie IS. The role of diode array ultraviolet detection for the identification of synthetic cathinones. Drug Test Anal 2017; 9:1512-1521. [DOI: 10.1002/dta.2163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Walter F. Rowe
- Department of Forensic Sciences; The George Washington University; 2100 Foxhall Road, NW, Somers Hall Washington DC 20007 USA
| | - Ioan Marginean
- Department of Forensic Sciences; The George Washington University; 2100 Foxhall Road, NW, Somers Hall Washington DC 20007 USA
| | - Stephanie Carnes
- Department of Forensic Sciences; The George Washington University; 2100 Foxhall Road, NW, Somers Hall Washington DC 20007 USA
| | - Ira S. Lurie
- Department of Forensic Sciences; The George Washington University; 2100 Foxhall Road, NW, Somers Hall Washington DC 20007 USA
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39
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Mahmoud BG, Khairy M, Rashwan FA, Banks CE. Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Acetaminophen and Isoniazid (Hepatotoxicity-Related Drugs) Utilizing Bismuth Oxide Nanorod Modified Screen-Printed Electrochemical Sensing Platforms. Anal Chem 2017; 89:2170-2178. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b05130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bahaa G. Mahmoud
- Chemistry
Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, 82524 Sohag, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Khairy
- Chemistry
Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, 82524 Sohag, Egypt
| | - Farouk A. Rashwan
- Chemistry
Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, 82524 Sohag, Egypt
| | - Craig E. Banks
- Faculty
of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, United Kingdom
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40
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Guilty by dissociation—development of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and other rapid screening methods for the analysis of 13 diphenidine-derived new psychoactive substances (NPSs). Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 408:8467-8481. [DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9969-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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41
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Rowley-Neale SJ, Fearn JM, Brownson DAC, Smith GC, Ji X, Banks CE. 2D molybdenum disulphide (2D-MoS2) modified electrodes explored towards the oxygen reduction reaction. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:14767-14777. [PMID: 27448174 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr04073j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional molybdenum disulphide nanosheets (2D-MoS2) have proven to be an effective electrocatalyst, with particular attention being focused on their use towards increasing the efficiency of the reactions associated with hydrogen fuel cells. Whilst the majority of research has focused on the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER), herein we explore the use of 2D-MoS2 as a potential electrocatalyst for the much less researched Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR). We stray from literature conventions and perform experiments in 0.1 M H2SO4 acidic electrolyte for the first time, evaluating the electrochemical performance of the ORR with 2D-MoS2 electrically wired/immobilised upon several carbon based electrodes (namely; Boron Doped Diamond (BDD), Edge Plane Pyrolytic Graphite (EPPG), Glassy Carbon (GC) and Screen-Printed Electrodes (SPE)) whilst exploring a range of 2D-MoS2 coverages/masses. Consequently, the findings of this study are highly applicable to real world fuel cell applications. We show that significant improvements in ORR activity can be achieved through the careful selection of the underlying/supporting carbon materials that electrically wire the 2D-MoS2 and utilisation of an optimal mass of 2D-MoS2. The ORR onset is observed to be reduced to ca. +0.10 V for EPPG, GC and SPEs at 2D-MoS2 (1524 ng cm(-2) modification), which is far closer to Pt at +0.46 V compared to bare/unmodified EPPG, GC and SPE counterparts. This report is the first to demonstrate such beneficial electrochemical responses in acidic conditions using a 2D-MoS2 based electrocatalyst material on a carbon-based substrate (SPEs in this case). Investigation of the beneficial reaction mechanism reveals the ORR to occur via a 4 electron process in specific conditions; elsewhere a 2 electron process is observed. This work offers valuable insights for those wishing to design, fabricate and/or electrochemically test 2D-nanosheet materials towards the ORR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Rowley-Neale
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
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42
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Kellett K, Broome JH, Zloh M, Kirton SB, Fergus S, Gerhard U, Stair JL, Wallace KJ. Small molecule recognition of mephedrone using an anthracene molecular clip. Chem Commun (Camb) 2016; 52:7474-7. [PMID: 27198990 DOI: 10.1039/c6cc03404g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
An anthracene molecular probe has been synthesised and shown to target mephedrone, a stimulant drug from the cathinone class of new psychoactive substances (NPS). A protocol has been developed to detect mephedrone via the probe using NMR spectroscopy in a simulated street sample containing two of the most common cutting agents, benzocaine and caffeine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Kellett
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Postgraduate Medicine, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, Al10 9AB UK.
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43
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Mercolini L, Protti M, Catapano MC, Rudge J, Sberna AE. LC–MS/MS and volumetric absorptive microsampling for quantitative bioanalysis of cathinone analogues in dried urine, plasma and oral fluid samples. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2016; 123:186-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2016.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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44
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Zuway KY, Smith JP, Foster CW, Kapur N, Banks CE, Sutcliffe OB. Detection and quantification of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) within the evolved "legal high" product, NRG-2, using high performance liquid chromatography-amperometric detection (HPLC-AD). Analyst 2016; 140:6283-94. [PMID: 26244169 DOI: 10.1039/c5an01106j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The global increase in the production and abuse of cathinone-derived New Psychoactive Substances (NPSs) has developed the requirement for rapid, selective and sensitive protocols for their separation and detection. Electrochemical sensing of these compounds has been demonstrated to be an effective method for the in-field detection of these substances, either in their pure form or in the presence of common adulterants, however, the technique is limited in its ability to discriminate between structurally related cathinone-derivatives (for example: (±)-4′-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC, 2a) and (±)-4′-methyl-N-ethylmethcathinone (4-MEC, 2b) when they are both present in a mixture. In this paper we demonstrate, for the first time, the combination of HPLC-UV with amperometric detection (HPLC-AD) for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of 4-MMC and 4-MEC using either a commercially available impinging jet (LC-FC-A) or custom-made iCell channel (LC-FC-B) flow-cell system incorporating embedded graphite screen-printed macroelectrodes. The protocol offers a cost-effective, reproducible and reliable sensor platform for the simultaneous HPLC-UV and amperometric detection of the target analytes. The two systems have similar limits of detection, in terms of amperometric detection [LC-FC-A: 14.66 μg mL(-1) (2a) and 9.35 μg mL(-1) (2b); LC-FC-B: 57.92 μg mL(-1) (2a) and 26.91 μg mL(-1) (2b)], to the previously reported oxidative electrochemical protocol [39.8 μg mL(-1) (2a) and 84.2 μg mL(-1) (2b)], for two synthetic cathinones, prevalent on the recreational drugs market. Though not as sensitive as standard HPLC-UV detection, both flow cells show a good agreement, between the quantitative electroanalytical data, thereby making them suitable for the detection and quantification of 4-MMC and 4-MEC, either in their pure form or within complex mixtures. Additionally, the simultaneous HPLC-UV and amperometric detection protocol detailed herein shows a marked improvement and advantage over previously reported electroanalytical methods, which were either unable to selectively discriminate between structurally related synthetic cathinones (e.g. 4-MMC and 4-MEC) or utilised harmful and restrictive materials in their design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Y Zuway
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
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45
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Dronova M, Smolianitski E, Lev O. Electrooxidation of New Synthetic Cannabinoids: Voltammetric Determination of Drugs in Seized Street Samples and Artificial Saliva. Anal Chem 2016; 88:4487-94. [PMID: 26905258 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.6b00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The electrochemical sensing of new psychoactive substances, synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), commonly marketed under the trade name "Spice" is explored for the first time. The electrooxidative transformations of 11 new indole and indazole SCs which are currently the predominant illicit smoking mixtures on the drug market is performed using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry with various commercially available electrodes (Pt, GC, Bdd). It is found that SCs exhibit voltammetric responses that can be used for their detection in smoking mixtures and artificial saliva with limits of detection in the nanomolar range. The indole-based SCs exhibited an anodic peak at ∼1.5 V (vs Ag/Ag(+)) and ∼1.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl) in acetonitrile and artificial saliva, respectively, and the indazoles exhibited corresponding peaks at ∼1.7 V and ∼1.5 V. The voltammetric procedure was evaluated by prescreening of SCs in 12 confiscated street samples that were also independently analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS techniques. A good agreement between the three analytical protocols was found. Voltammetry provides a tool for the prescreening of synthetic cannabinoid derivatives in seized materials and biological samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Dronova
- The Casali Center of Applied Chemistry, The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Evgeny Smolianitski
- The Casali Center of Applied Chemistry, The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
| | - Ovadia Lev
- The Casali Center of Applied Chemistry, The Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem , Jerusalem 9190401, Israel
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46
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Smith JP, Sutcliffe OB, Banks CE. An overview of recent developments in the analytical detection of new psychoactive substances (NPSs). Analyst 2016; 140:4932-48. [PMID: 26031385 DOI: 10.1039/c5an00797f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
New psychoactive substances (NPSs), sometimes referred to as "legal highs" in more colloquial environments/the media, are a class of compounds that have been recently made available for abuse (not necessarily recently discovered) which provide similar effects to the traditional well studied illegal drugs but are not always controlled under existing local, regional or international drug legislation. Following an unprecedented increase in the number of NPSs in the last 5 years (with 101 substances discovered for the first time in 2014 alone) its, occasionally fatal, consequences have been extensively reported in the media. Such NPSs are typically marketed as 'not for human consumption' and are instead labelled and sold as plant food, bath salts as well as a whole host of other equally nondescript aliases in order to bypass legislative controls. NPSs are a new multi-disciplinary research field with the main emphasis in terms of forensic identification due to their adverse health effects, which can range from minimal to life threatening and even fatalities. In this mini-review we overview this recent emerging research area of NPSs and the analytical approaches reported to provide detection strategies as well as detailing recent reports towards providing point-of-care/in-the-field NPS ("legal high") sensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie P Smith
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
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47
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Rowley-Neale SJ, Brownson DAC, Smith GC, Sawtell DAG, Kelly PJ, Banks CE. 2D nanosheet molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) modified electrodes explored towards the hydrogen evolution reaction. NANOSCALE 2015; 7:18152-68. [PMID: 26478468 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr05164a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We explore the use of two-dimensional (2D) MoS2 nanosheets as an electrocatalyst for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). Using four commonly employed commercially available carbon based electrode support materials, namely edge plane pyrolytic graphite (EPPG), glassy carbon (GC), boron-doped diamond (BDD) and screen-printed graphite electrodes (SPE), we critically evaluate the reported electrocatalytic performance of unmodified and MoS2 modified electrodes towards the HER. Surprisingly, current literature focuses almost exclusively on the use of GC as an underlying support electrode upon which HER materials are immobilised. 2D MoS2 nanosheet modified electrodes are found to exhibit a coverage dependant electrocatalytic effect towards the HER. Modification of the supporting electrode surface with an optimal mass of 2D MoS2 nanosheets results in a lowering of the HER onset potential by ca. 0.33, 0.57, 0.29 and 0.31 V at EPPG, GC, SPE and BDD electrodes compared to their unmodified counterparts respectively. The lowering of the HER onset potential is associated with each supporting electrode's individual electron transfer kinetics/properties and is thus distinct. The effect of MoS2 coverage is also explored. We reveal that its ability to catalyse the HER is dependent on the mass deposited until a critical mass of 2D MoS2 nanosheets is achieved, after which its electrocatalytic benefits and/or surface stability curtail. The active surface site density and turn over frequency for the 2D MoS2 nanosheets is determined, characterised and found to be dependent on both the coverage of 2D MoS2 nanosheets and the underlying/supporting substrate. This work is essential for those designing, fabricating and consequently electrochemically testing 2D nanosheet materials for the HER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Rowley-Neale
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Dale A C Brownson
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Graham C Smith
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Natural Sciences, University of Chester, Thornton Science Park, Pool Lane, Ince, Chester CH2 4NU, UK
| | - David A G Sawtell
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Peter J Kelly
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Craig E Banks
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Science and the Environment, Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Chester Street, Manchester M1 5GD, UK.
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48
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Randviir EP, Banks CE. Electrode substrate innovation for electrochemical detection in microchip electrophoresis. Electrophoresis 2015; 36:1845-53. [DOI: 10.1002/elps.201500153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Edward P. Randviir
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science; Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Chemistry and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University; Lancs UK
| | - Craig E. Banks
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science; Faculty of Science and Engineering; School of Chemistry and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University; Lancs UK
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49
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Cumba LR, Kolliopoulos AV, Smith JP, Thompson PD, Evans PR, Sutcliffe OB, do Carmo DR, Banks CE. Forensic electrochemistry: indirect electrochemical sensing of the components of the new psychoactive substance “Synthacaine”. Analyst 2015; 140:5536-45. [DOI: 10.1039/c5an00858a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
For the first time a novel indirect, independently validated, electrochemical protocol for the sensing of MPA and 2-AI (“Synthacaine”) is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loanda R. Cumba
- Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira UNESP – Universidade Estadual Paulista
- Departamento de Física e Química
- Ilha Solteira
- Brazil
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
| | - Athanasios V. Kolliopoulos
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- School of Science and the Environment
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Manchester M1 5GD
| | - Jamie P. Smith
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- School of Science and the Environment
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Manchester M1 5GD
| | - Paul D. Thompson
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- School of Science and the Environment
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Manchester M1 5GD
| | - Peter R. Evans
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- School of Science and the Environment
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Manchester M1 5GD
| | - Oliver B. Sutcliffe
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- School of Science and the Environment
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Manchester M1 5GD
| | - Devaney R. do Carmo
- Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira UNESP – Universidade Estadual Paulista
- Departamento de Física e Química
- Ilha Solteira
- Brazil
| | - Craig E. Banks
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- School of Science and the Environment
- Division of Chemistry and Environmental Science
- Manchester Metropolitan University
- Manchester M1 5GD
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