Quantitative surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy chemical analysis using citrate as an in situ calibrant

Identification of Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is) analogues using surface-enhanced Raman scattering and machine learning algorithm

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is), primarily used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, have been severely misused in recent years, posing a threat to public health and safety. This study developed a method that combines Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) with machine learning algorithms to rapidly identify different PDE5is types. A total of 948 SERS spectra from 79 PDE5is were collected using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as the enhancement agent, and dimensionality reduction was performed through principal component analysis (PCA). Subsequently, six traditional machine learning models, partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), support vector machines (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), random forest (RF), and multilayer perceptron (MLP) were applied for data classification and identification. Results showed that the MLP model achieved the highest classification accuracy of 99.65 %, with only 1.82 % of the samples misclassified from thiosildenafil to sildenafil analogues, significantly outperforming the other models. This method offers a rapid, cost-effective, and accurate alternative for the detection of PDE5is in health foods, with implications for improving regulatory oversight and public health safety.

SERS study of classical and newly β-lactams-metal complexation based on in situ laser-induced coral reefs-like silver photomicroclusters: In vitro study of antibacterial activity

The influence of metal complexation of two polar β-lactam antibiotics was investigated using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique. SERS method was applied to track the structural changes and the degradation behaviour of the studied compounds upon Zinc (II) ions-complexation. In situ laser-induced coral reefs-like photomicroclusters have been utilized as a SERS platform. The produced coral reefs-like photomicroclusters were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The antibacterial efficiency of the antibiotics was investigated and compared before and after metal complexation using two techniques; agar well diffusion and growth curve. To provide a detailed elucidation of the complexation reaction, mass fragmentation of metal- antibiotics complexes was investigated using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric (LC/MS) technique. It was found that metal complexation of classical β-lactam antibiotic (Ticarcillin) promoted the rate of its degradation, leading to a decrease of the antibacterial efficiency. On the other side, the antibacterial activity of the newly developed β-lactam (Faropenem) has been greatly enhanced via metal-complexation reaction.

Quantitative Raman Cross-Sections and Band Assignments for Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs

Raman cross sections and spectra were measured for five synthetic opioid fentanyl analogs: fentanyl citrate, sufentanil citrate, alfentanil HCl, carfentanil oxalate, and remifentanil HCl. The measurements were performed with excitation wavelengths in the visible (532 nm) and near infrared (785 nm). In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were employed to generate simulated spectra of the compounds and aid in identification of the observed spectral modes. These cross-section measurements and calculations were also used to assess results from a series of measurements of fentanyls cut with other powdered materials. These measurements are valuable for assessment of field-deployable Raman chemical sensors for detection of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, including when mixed with other materials.

Research Progress of Raman Spectroscopy and Raman Imaging in Pharmaceutical Analysis

The analytical investigation of the pharmaceutical process monitors the critical process parameters of the drug, beginning from its development until marketing and postmarketing, and appropriate corrective action can be taken to change the pharmaceutical design at any stage of the process. Advanced analytical methods, such as Raman spectroscopy, are particularly suitable for use in the field of drug analysis, especially for qualitative and quantitative work, due to the advantages of simple sample preparation, fast, nondestructive analysis speed, and effective avoidance of moisture interference. Advanced Raman imaging techniques have gradually become a powerful alternative method for monitoring changes in polymorph distribution and active pharmaceutical ingredient distribution in drug processing and pharmacokinetics. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has also solved the inherent insensitivity and fluorescence problems of Raman, which has made good progress in the field of illegal drug analysis. This review summarizes the application of Raman spectroscopy and imaging technology, which are used in the qualitative and quantitative analysis of solid tablets, quality control of the production process, drug crystal analysis, illegal drug analysis, and monitoring of drug dissolution and release in the field of drug analysis in recent years.

In situ and real time investigation of foliarly applied silver nanoparticles on and in spinach leaves by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic mapping

Understanding the behavior and biological fate of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) applied on plant surfaces is significant for their risk assessment. Our study's objective is to investigate the interactions between AgNPs and plant biomolecules as well as to monitor and quantify the penetration of AgNPs in spinach by an in situ and real-time surface enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) mapping technique. AgNPs (2 μg per leaf) of different surface coatings (citrate, CIT, and polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP) and sizes (40 and 100 nm) were foliarly applied onto spinach leaves with different exposure times (1-48 h). Cysteine is the major biomolecule that interacts with AgNPs in spinach based on the in situ and in vitro SERS pattern recognition. The interaction between CIT-AgNPs and cysteine happened in as early as 1 h after AgNP foliar deposition, which is faster than the interaction between PVP-AgNPs and cysteine. Also, the SERS depth mapping shows that particle size rather than surface coating determines the penetration capability of AgNPs in spinach, in which 40 nm AgNPs show a deeper penetration than the 100 nm ones. Last but not least, based on the results of SERS mapping, we detected significantly higher amounts of 40 nm CIT-/PVP-AgNPs than 100 nm CIT-AgNPs internalized in the leaf tissues after 1 h exposure. The estimated percentage of internalized AgNPs (0.2-0.8%) was significantly smaller than that of the total residual Ag (9-12%), indicating the potential transformation of the AgNPs into other Ag species inside the plant tissues. This study facilitates a better understanding of the behavior and biological fate of AgNPs in plant tissues.

Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019

This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.

Detection and classification of fentanyl and its precursors by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

Fentanyl and its analogs have been at the center of the opioid epidemic currently wreaking havoc in the United States. One major element in the opioid crisis is the growing number of clandestine fentanyl labs being reported by enforcement agencies. The development of new analytical methods for detecting and identifying fentanyl and its congeners is among the useful tools in our goal to limit the use of this dangerous family of narcotics. Herein we describe an analytical technique using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and a microfluidic device, for detecting fentanyl and two of its chemical precursors, despropionylfentanyl (4ANPP) and N-phenethyl-4-piperidinone (NPP). The vibrational spectra of this family of analytes are very similar, making them difficult to distinguish by traditional means. In addition to taking advantage of the sensitivity provided by SERS, we developed a chemometric approach utilizing a hierarchical partial least squares-discriminant analysis algorithm that allowed us to distinguish spectra that possess many similar features.