The growing non-medical use of benzodiazepines (BZs) has led to the emergence of counterfeit BZ pills and new psycho-active substances (NPS) in the BZ class on the illicit market. Comprehensive analytical methods for BZ identification are required to allow law enforcement, first aid responders and drug-checking services to analyze a variety of sample types and contents to make timely decisions on the spot. In this work, the electrochemical behavior of diazepam (DZ), clonazepam (CZ) and alprazolam (AP) is studied on graphite screen-printed electrodes, both with and without dissolved oxygen in the solution, to link their redox signals to their chemical structure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA portable and highly sensitive sensor was designed for the specific detection of 3,4-methyl-enedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), in a range of field-testing situations. The sensor can detect MDMA in street samples, even when other controlled substances drugs, or adulterants are present. In this work, we report for the first time a sensor using electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles computationally designed to recognize MDMA and then produced using solid phase synthesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFYearly, cannabis belongs to the most seized drugs worldwide. During judicial investigations, illicit cannabis profiling can be performed to compare seized herbal material. However, comparison is challenging because of the natural heterogeneity of the psychoactive crop.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethamphetamine (MAP) is a highly addictive and illegal stimulant drug that has a significant impact on the central nervous system. Its detection in biological and street samples is crucial for various organizations involved in forensic medicine, anti-drug efforts, and clinical diagnosis. In recent years, nanotechnology and nanomaterials have played a significant role in the development of analytical sensors for MAP detection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethamphetamine (MA) is a synthetic psychoactive drug which is consumed both licitly and illicitly. In some countries it is prescribed for attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and short-term treatment of obesity. More often though, it is abused for its psychostimulant properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFL. is widely used as recreational illegal drugs. Illicit Cannabis profiling, comparing seized samples, is challenging due to natural Cannabis heterogeneity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSelected-Ion Flow-Tube Mass Spectrometry (SIFT-MS) has been applied in a clinical context as diagnostic tool for breath samples using target biomarkers. Exhaled breath sampling is non-invasive and therefore much more patient friendly compared to bronchoscopy, which is the golden standard for evaluating airway inflammation. In the actual pilot study, 55 exhaled breath samples of children with asthma, cystic-fibrosis and healthy individuals were included.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTwenty commercially available stationary phases were characterized in supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) using a diverse set of pharmaceutical compounds. Six dissimilar phases were selected, and a benzodiazepine and a trimethoprim impurity mixture were screened on these phases. Two stationary phases were then selected for each mixture to study the effect of temperature and back-pressure on retention, separation and chromatographic efficiency using a response surface design approach.
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