Fouling-Resistant Voltammetric Xylazine Sensors for Detection of the Street Drug "Tranq"
Stern, Joyce E
;
Wemple, Ann H
;
Sheppard, Charles W
, et al.
Toxics,2024,12(11):791.
DOI:
10.3390/toxics12110791
More
Abstract: As the opioid crisis continues to wreak havoc on a global scale, it is increasingly critical to develop methodologies to detect the most dangerous drugs such as fentanyl and its derivatives, which have orders of magnitude higher potency than morphine. The scientific challenge for chemical detection of fentanyl and its derivatives is complicated by both the constantly increasing synthetic variations of the drug as well as the expanded use of adulterants. One tragically consequential example is the nocuous street drug known as "Tranq", which combines fentanyl or a fentanyl derivative with the veterinary sedative Rompun®, chemically identified as xylazine (XYL). This pervasive street cocktail is exacerbating the already staggering number of fentanyl-related deaths as its acute toxicity poses a danger to medical first-responders and complicates their initial assessment and treatment options for overdose victims. Given the widespread use of XYL as an adulterant, an electrochemical XYL sensor capable of on-site operation by non-experts as a fast-screening tool is a notable goal. This work presents a voltammetry-based sensor featuring carbon electrodes modified with carboxylic-acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes layered with cyclodextrin and polyurethane membranes for sensitivity and selectivity enhancements. The sensor has critical and robust fouling resistance while providing sensitivity at 950 µA/mM·cm2, a low limit of detection (~5 ppm), and the ability to detect XYL in the presence of fentanyl and/or other non-fentanyl stimulants like cocaine. The demonstrated sensor can be applied to promote public health with its ability to detect and indicate XYL in the presence of opioids, serving to protect drug-users, first responders, medical examiners, and on-site forensic investigators from exposure to these dangerous mixtures.
Keywords:
xylazine ;
fentanyl ;
opioid ;
adulterant ;
Tranq ;
Zombie ;
differential pulse voltammetry
Purchased from AmBeed:
7585-39-9
An Amperometric Sensor with Anti-Fouling Properties for Indicating Xylazine Adulterant in Beverages
Vinnikov, Arielle
;
Sheppard, Charles W
;
Wemple, Ann H
, et al.
Micromachines,2024,15(11):1340.
DOI:
10.3390/mi15111340
More
Abstract: Amperometric electrochemical sensing schemes, which are easily fabricated and can directly relate measured current with analyte concentrations, remain a promising strategy for the development of the portable, in situ detection of commonly employed adulterants. Xylazine (XYL) is a non-narcotic compound designed for veterinary use as a sedative known as Rompun®. XYL is increasingly being abused as a recreational drug, as an opioid adulterant and, because of its chemical properties, has found unfortunate prominence as a date rape drug spiked into beverages. In this study, a systematic exploration and development of fouling-resistant, amperometric XYL sensors is presented. The sensing strategy features layer-by-layer (LBL) modification of glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for sensitivity and the engagement of cyclodextrin host-guest chemistry in conjunction with polyurethane (PU) semi-permeable membranes for selectivity. The optimization of different materials and parameters during development created a greater fundamental understanding of the interfacial electrochemistry, allowing for a more informed subsequent design of effective sensors exhibiting XYL selectivity, effective sensitivity, rapid response times (<20 s), and low estimated limits of detection (~1 ppm). Most importantly, the demonstrated XYL sensors are versatile and robust, easily fabricated from common materials, and can effectively detect XYL at <10 ppm in both common alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, requiring only minimal volume (20 µL) of the spiked beverage for a standard addition analysis.
Keywords:
xylazine ;
beverages ;
amperometry ;
sensors ;
carbon nanotubes ;
date rape ;
sexual assault
Purchased from AmBeed:
7585-39-9
Leveraging Green Chromatography in Quality‐by‐Design‐Driven Study for the Simultaneous Analysis of Essential Single‐Pill Antidiabetic Drug Combinations
Ibrahim, Adel Ehab
;
Alamir, Samy G
;
Maged, Khaled
, et al.
J. Sep. Sci.,2024,47(24):e70063.
DOI:
10.1002/jssc.70063
PubMed ID:
39722119
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Abstract: Micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) has proven beneficial efficiency and ecological impact for routine quality control activities. In the proposed study, cyrene was investigated for the first time, together with other green additives, as a novel safe organic solvent in reversed-phase MLC. Quality-by-design (QbD) approach screened their effect on the separation performance. Six antidiabetic drugs from different classes, namely, metformin (MTF), empagliflozin (EMP), ertugliflozin (ERT), linagliptin (LNT), sitagliptin (SIT), and gliclazide (GCZ) were utilized to assess some newly approved antidiabetic drugs and combinations. An organic solvent-free mobile phase consisting of (0.01 M Brij-35, 0.09 M sodium dodecyl sulfate, and 0.01 M ammonium acetate, pH 5.0) separated the studied drugs using an RP-C18 core-shell column. The flow rate was set at 1.2 mL/min, and analytes were detected using a photodiode array detector at 245, 270, and 225 nm. System suitability parameters demonstrated MLC capability to eliminate organic solvents without compromising separation efficiency. The method was validated across a concentration range of 2.0–30.0 µg/mL for EMP, ERT, and LNT, 20.0–120.0 µg/mL for GCZ and SIT, and 100.0–600.0 µg/mL for MTF. The method successfully determined analytes in different single and multicomponent tablets. Greenness assessment was performed using MoGAPI and AGREE metrics.
Keywords:
Antidiabetics ;
green chromatography ;
green mobile phase additives ;
micellar liquid chromatography ;
quality by design
Purchased from AmBeed:
7585-39-9
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