Researchers from Brazil have developed a electrochemical technique for detecting synthetic cathinones, a prominent class of new psychoactive substances (NPS). This innovative method employs differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on a boron-doped diamond electrode (BDDE) to screen 15 synthetic cathinones, such as mephedrone and methylone, known for their prevalence in drug markets. Unlike traditional tests, the BDDE-DPV method offers superior sensitivity, portability, and robustness, making it a game-changer for forensic applications.
Synthetic cathinones, often referred to as "bath salts," have risen in popularity due to their potent effects and evasion of legal restrictions. Their structural diversity poses challenges for law enforcement and analytical laboratories. Standard presumptive methods like colorimetric tests are limited in scope and prone to false positives, while advanced techniques like mass spectrometry are cost-intensive and less feasible for on-site application.
The research team optimized their electrochemical setup in a Britton-Robinson buffer solution at pH 8.0, identifying two distinct reduction peaks that serve as unique electrochemical signatures for synthetic cathinones. These fingerprints enable accurate differentiation of the substances from other drugs like MDMA and cocaine. The study also applied chemometric methods, including principal component analysis, to classify cathinones into six distinct subgroups based on structural and electrochemical profiles.
The method demonstrated exceptional accuracy when tested on 46 seized samples, with results validated against liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), a gold-standard analytical technique. Impressively, the BDDE-DPV approach also detected cathinones not included in the original set, such as bupropion, benzylone, and dipentylone, highlighting its adaptability to emerging substances.
For more information, access the original research article published in Analytical Chemistry: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.4c04059 (clearnet).
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