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Leary PE, Kizzire KL, Chan Chao R, Niedziejko M, Martineau N, Kammrath BW. Evaluation of portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the analysis of fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and other synthetic opioids. J Forensic Sci 2023; 68:1601-1614. [PMID: 37470264 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Potent synthetic opioids including fentanyl and its analogs are frequently encountered in the field and require detection and identification by first responders to maintain the safety of drug abusers, first responders, health-care providers, and the public at large. Due to the low concentration at which these substances may be encountered and the complicating matrices within which they may be dispersed, the use of portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for their identification in the field offers great potential value. This research established that portable GC-MS is a useful method for the detection and identification of a large number of synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl and its analogs. In this study, 250 synthetic opioids and related substances including 210 fentanyl analogs were analyzed using portable GC-MS. It was concluded that 225 of the 250 (90.0%) opioids analyzed were successfully detected onboard at the time of analysis and identified as either the substance (55.2%) or an analog (34.8%). These outcomes have equivalent benefit for the field analysis of illicit drugs due to both initiating the same subsequent actions by first responders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Brooke W Kammrath
- University of New Haven, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, West Haven, Connecticut, USA
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2
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Bruijns B, Tiggelaar R, Knotter J, van Dam A. Use of Lateral Flow Assays in Forensics. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:6201. [PMID: 37448049 DOI: 10.3390/s23136201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Already for some decades lateral flow assays (LFAs) are 'common use' devices in our daily life. Also, for forensic use LFAs are developed, such as for the analysis of illicit drugs and DNA, but also for the detection of explosives and body fluid identification. Despite their advantages, including ease-of-use, LFAs are not yet frequently applied at a crime scene. This review describes (academic) developments of LFAs for forensic applications, focusing on biological and chemical applications, whereby the main advantages and disadvantages of LFAs for the different forensic applications are summarized. Additionally, a critical review is provided, discussing why LFAs are not frequently applied within the forensic field and highlighting the steps that are needed to bring LFAs to the forensic market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitte Bruijns
- Technologies for Criminal Investigations, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB Enschede, The Netherlands
- Police Academy, Arnhemseweg 348, 7334 AC Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
| | - Roald Tiggelaar
- NanoLab Cleanroom, MESA+ Institute, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Knotter
- Technologies for Criminal Investigations, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M.H. Tromplaan 28, 7513 AB Enschede, The Netherlands
- Police Academy, Arnhemseweg 348, 7334 AC Apeldoorn, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke van Dam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering & Physics, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Forensic Science, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Tafelbergweg 51, 1105 BD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Methodology Research Program, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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3
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Canoura J, Liu Y, Perry J, Willis C, Xiao Y. Suite of Aptamer-Based Sensors for the Detection of Fentanyl and Its Analogues. ACS Sens 2023; 8:1901-1911. [PMID: 37095642 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c02463] [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: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Fentanyl and its analogues are potent synthetic opioids that are commonly abused and are currently the number one cause of drug overdose death in the United States. The ability to detect fentanyl with simple, rapid, and low-cost tools is crucial for forensics, medical care, and public safety. Conventional on-site testing options for fentanyl detection─including chemical spot tests, lateral-flow immunoassays, and portable Raman spectrometers─each have their own unique flaws that limit their analytical utility. Here, we have developed a series of new aptamer-based assays and sensors that can detect fentanyl as well as several of its analogues in a reliable, accurate, rapid, and economic manner. These include colorimetric, fluorescent, and electrochemical sensors, which can detect and quantify minute quantities of fentanyl and many of its analogues with no response to other illicit drugs, cutting agents, or adulterants─even in interferent-ridden binary mixtures containing as little as 1% fentanyl. Given the high performance of these novel analytical tools, we foresee the potential for routine use by medical and law enforcement personnel as well as the general public to aid in rapid and accurate fentanyl identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Canoura
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Yingzhu Liu
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Jacob Perry
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Connor Willis
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Drive, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, United States
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Gozdzialski L, Wallace B, Hore D. Point-of-care community drug checking technologies: an insider look at the scientific principles and practical considerations. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:39. [PMID: 36966319 PMCID: PMC10039693 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00764-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug checking is increasingly being explored outside of festivals and events to be an ongoing service within communities, frequently integrated within responses to illicit drug overdose. The choice of instrumentation is a common question, and the demands on these chemical analytical instruments can be challenging as illicit substances may be more complex and include highly potent ingredients at trace levels. The answer remains nuanced as the instruments themselves are not directly comparable nor are the local demands on the service, meaning implementation factors heavily influence the assessment and effectiveness of instruments. In this perspective, we provide a technical but accessible introduction to the background of a few common drug checking methods aimed at current and potential drug checking service providers. We discuss the following tools that have been used as part of the Vancouver Island Drug Checking Project in Victoria, Canada: immunoassay test strips, attenuated total reflection IR-absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy from powder samples, surface-enhanced Raman scattering in a solution of colloidal gold nanoparticles, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Using four different drug mixtures received and tested at the service, we illustrate the strengths, limitations, and capabilities of such instruments, and expose the scientific theory to give further insight into their analytical results. Each case study provides a walk-through-style analysis for a practical comparison between data from several different instruments acquired on the same sample. Ideally, a single instrument would be able to achieve all of the objectives of drug checking. However, there is no clear instrument that ticks every box; low cost, portable, rapid, easy-to-use and provides highly sensitive identification and accurate quantification. Multi-instrument approaches to drug checking may be required to effectively respond to increasingly complex and highly potent substances demanding trace level detection and the potential for quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Gozdzialski
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8W 3V6, Canada
| | - Bruce Wallace
- School of Social Work, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Dennis Hore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8W 3V6, Canada.
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8W 2Y2, Canada.
- Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, V8W 3P6, Canada.
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5
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Affiliation(s)
- David Love
- United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Testing and Research Laboratory, USA
| | - Nicole S. Jones
- RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA,70113th Street, N.W., Suite 750, Washington, DC, 20005-3967, USA,Corresponding author. RTI International, Applied Justice Research Division, Center for Forensic Sciences, 3040 E. Cornwallis Road, Research Triangle Park, NC, 22709-2194, USA.
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Qu F, Lin L, Nie P, Xia Z. High-Precision Automatic Identification of Fentanyl-Related Drugs by Terahertz Spectroscopy with Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Spectral Similarity Mapping. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810321. [PMID: 36142226 PMCID: PMC9499453 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fentanyl is a potent opioid analgesic with high bioavailability. It is the leading cause of drug addiction and overdose death. To better control the abuse of fentanyl and its derivatives, it is crucial to develop rapid and sensitive detection methods. However, fentanyl-related substrates undergo similar molecular structures resulting in similar properties, which are difficult to be identified by conventional spectroscopic methods. In this work, a method for the automatic identification of 8 fentanyl-related substances with similar spectral characteristics was developed using terahertz (THz) spectroscopy coupled with density functional theory (DFT) and spectral similarity mapping (SSM). To characterize the THz fingerprints of these fentanyl-related samples more accurately, the method of baseline estimation and denoising with sparsity was performed before revealing the unique molecular dynamics of each substance by DFT. The SSM method was proposed to identify these fentanyl analogs based on weighted spectral cosine–cross similarity and fingerprint discrete Fréchet distance, generating a matching list by stepwise searching the entire spectral database. The top matched list returned the identification results of the target fentanyl analogs with accuracies of 94.48~99.33%. Results from this work provide algorithms’ increased reliability, which serves as an artificial intelligence-based tool for high-precision fentanyl analysis in real-world samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Qu
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 310002, China
| | - Lei Lin
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Pengcheng Nie
- College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Key Laboratory of Spectroscopy Sensing, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhengyan Xia
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-0571-8898-2456
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Hauck BC, Riley PC, Ince BS. Effect of environmental conditions on the performance of fentanyl field detection tests. Forensic Chem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2021.100394] [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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Di Nardo F, Chiarello M, Cavalera S, Baggiani C, Anfossi L. Ten Years of Lateral Flow Immunoassay Technique Applications: Trends, Challenges and Future Perspectives. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 21:5185. [PMID: 34372422 PMCID: PMC8348896 DOI: 10.3390/s21155185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The Lateral Flow Immunoassay (LFIA) is by far one of the most successful analytical platforms to perform the on-site detection of target substances. LFIA can be considered as a sort of lab-in-a-hand and, together with other point-of-need tests, has represented a paradigm shift from sample-to-lab to lab-to-sample aiming to improve decision making and turnaround time. The features of LFIAs made them a very attractive tool in clinical diagnostic where they can improve patient care by enabling more prompt diagnosis and treatment decisions. The rapidity, simplicity, relative cost-effectiveness, and the possibility to be used by nonskilled personnel contributed to the wide acceptance of LFIAs. As a consequence, from the detection of molecules, organisms, and (bio)markers for clinical purposes, the LFIA application has been rapidly extended to other fields, including food and feed safety, veterinary medicine, environmental control, and many others. This review aims to provide readers with a 10-years overview of applications, outlining the trends for the main application fields and the relative compounded annual growth rates. Moreover, future perspectives and challenges are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Di Nardo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, 10125 Torino, Italy; (M.C.); (S.C.); (C.B.); (L.A.)
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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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