Rapid Determination of the ‘Legal Highs’ 4-MMC and 4-MEC by Spectroelectrochemistry: Simultaneous Cyclic Voltammetry and In Situ Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
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Date
2021-12-31Author
González Hernández, Jerson
Ott, Colby Edward
Arcos Martínez, María Julia
Colina, Álvaro
Heras, Aránzazu
Alvarado Gámez, Ana Lorena
Urcuyo Solórzano, Roberto
Arroyo Mora, Luis E.
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The synthetic cathinones mephedrone (4-MMC) and 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC) are
two designer drugs that represent the rise and fall effect of this drug category within the stimulants
market and are still available in several countries around the world. As a result, the qualitative
and quantitative determination of ‘legal highs’, and their mixtures, are of great interest. This work
explores for the first time the spectroelectrochemical response of these substances by coupling
cyclic voltammetry (CV) with Raman spectroscopy in a portable instrument. It was found that the
stimulants exhibit a voltammetric response on a gold screen-printed electrode while the surface is
simultaneously electro-activated to achieve a periodic surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)
substrate with high reproducibility. The proposed method enables a rapid and reliable determination
in which both substances can be selectively analyzed through the oxidation waves of the molecules
and the characteristic bands of the electrochemical SERS (EC-SERS) spectra. The feasibility and
applicability of the method were assessed in simulated seized drug samples and spiked synthetic
urine. This time-resolved spectroelectrochemical technique provides a cost-effective and user-friendly
tool for onsite screening of synthetic stimulants in matrices with low concentration analytes for
forensic applications.
External link to the item
10.3390/s22010295Collections
- Química [360]