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Author |
Parrilla, M.; Montiel, F.N.; Van Durme, F.; De Wael, K. |
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Title |
Derivatization of amphetamine to allow its electrochemical detection in illicit drug seizures |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2021 |
Publication |
Sensors And Actuators B-Chemical |
Abbreviated Journal |
Sensor Actuat B-Chem |
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Volume |
337 |
Issue |
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Pages |
129819 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; AXES (Antwerp X-ray Analysis, Electrochemistry and Speciation) |
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Abstract |
Amphetamine (AMP) is posing critical issues in our society being one of the most encountered drugs-of-abuse in the current illicit market. The continuous drug production in Europe urges the development of new tools for the rapid on-site determination of illicit drugs such as AMP. However, the direct electrochemical detection of AMP is a challenge because the molecule is non-electroactive at the potential window of conventional graphite SPEs. For this reason, a derivatization step is needed to convert the primary amine into an electroactive oxidizable group. Herein, the rapid electrochemical detection of AMP in seized samples based on the derivatization by 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate (NQS) is presented by using square wave voltammetry (SWV) at graphite screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). First, a detailed optimization of the key parameters and the analytical performance is provided. The method showed a sensitivity of 7.9 µA mM-1 within a linear range from 50 to 500 µM, a limit of detection of 22.2 µM, and excellent reproducibility (RSD = 4.3%, n = 5 at 500 µM). Subsequently, the effect of NQS on common cutting agents for the selective detection of AMP is addressed. The comparison of the method with drugs-of-abuse containing secondary and tertiary amines confirms the selectivity of the method. Finally, the concept is applied to quantify AMP in 20 seized samples provided by forensic laboratories, exhibiting an accuracy of 97.3 ± 10.5%. Overall, the fast analysis of samples with the electrochemical profiling of derivatized AMP exhibits a straightforward on-site screening aiming to facilitate the tasks of law enforcement agents in the field. |
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Wos |
000640386500001 |
Publication Date |
2021-03-19 |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0925-4005 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
5.401 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
OpenAccess |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 5.401 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:176353 |
Serial |
7762 |
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Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Montiel, F.N.; Parrilla, M.; Sleegers, N.; Van Durme, F.; van Nuijs, A.L.N.; De Wael, K. |
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Title |
Electrochemical sensing of amphetamine-type stimulants (pre)-precursors to fight against the illicit production of synthetic drugs |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2022 |
Publication |
Electrochimica acta |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
436 |
Issue |
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Pages |
141446-11 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Toxicological Centre; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab) |
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Abstract |
The illicit drug precursor market for the manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), mainly amphetamine, methamphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), has emerged quickly in the last years. The evidence of a more complex and sophisticated drug market underlines the pressing need for new on-site methods to quickly detect precursors of synthetic drugs, with electrochemical analysis as a promising technique. Herein, the electrochemical fingerprints of ten common ATS precursors-3-oxo-2-phenylbutanenitrile (APAAN), 3-oxo-2-phenylbutanamide (APAA), methyl 3-oxo-2-phenylbutanoate (MAPA), benzyl methyl ketone (BMK), 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)propan-2-one (PMK), ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, safrole, sassafras oil and piperonal- are reported for the first time. The electrochemical screening disclosed the redox inactivity of BMK, which is an essential starting material for the production of ATS. Therefore, the local derivatization of BMK at an electrode surface by reductive amination is presented as a feasible solution to enrich its electrochemical fingerprint. To prove that, the resulting mixture was analyzed using a set of chromatographic techniques to understand the reaction mechanism and to identify possible electrochemical active products. Two reaction products (i.e. methamphetamine and 1-phenylpropan-2-ol) were found and characterized using mass spectrometry and electrochemical methods. Subsequently, the optimization of the reaction parameters was carefully addressed to set the portable electrochemical sensing strategy. Ultimately, the analysis concept was validated for the qualitative identification of ATS precursors in seizures from a forensic institute. Overall, the electrochemical approach demonstrates to be a useful and affordable analytical tool for the early identification of ATS precursors to prevent trafficking and drug manufacture in clandestine laboratories. |
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Wos |
000914833800003 |
Publication Date |
2022-10-27 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0013-4686 |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
OpenAccess |
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no |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:191622 |
Serial |
8858 |
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Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Parrilla, M.; Slosse, A.; Van Echelpoel, R.; Montiel, F.N.; Langley, A.R.; Van Durme, F.; De Wael, K. |
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Title |
Rapid on-site detection of illicit drugs in smuggled samples with a portable electrochemical device |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2022 |
Publication |
Chemosensors |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
10 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
108-116 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab) |
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Abstract |
The smuggling of illicit drugs urges the development of new tools for rapid on-site identification in cargos. Current methods rely on presumptive color tests and portable spectroscopic techniques. However, these methods sometimes exhibit inaccurate results due to commonly used cutting agents, the colorful nature of the sample or because the drugs are smuggled in common goods. Interestingly, electrochemical sensors can deal with these specific problems. Herein, an electrochemical device is presented that uses affordable screen-printed electrodes for the electrochemical profiling of several illicit drugs by square-wave voltammetry (SWV). The identification of the illicit compound is based on the oxidation potential of the analyte. Hence, a library of electrochemical profiles is built upon the analysis of illicit drugs and common cutting agents. This library allows the design of a tailor-made script that enables the identification of each drug through a user-friendly interface (laptop or mobile phone). Importantly, the electrochemical test is compared by analyzing 48 confiscated samples with other portable devices based on Raman and FTIR spectroscopy as well as a laboratory standard method (i.e., gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). Overall, the electrochemical results, obtained through the analysis of different samples from confiscated cargos at an end-user site, present a promising alternative to current methods, offering low-cost and rapid testing in the field. |
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Wos |
000775813500001 |
Publication Date |
2022-03-11 |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
2227-9040 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record; WoS citing articles |
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Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
OpenAccess |
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no |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:187766 |
Serial |
8920 |
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Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Montiel, F.N. |
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Title |
Voltage against illicit drug trafficking : capabilities of electrochemical fingerprinting to detect illicit drugs |
Type |
Doctoral thesis |
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Year |
2024 |
Publication |
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Abbreviated Journal |
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Issue |
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Pages |
256 p. |
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Keywords |
Doctoral thesis; Pharmacology. Therapy; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab) |
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Additional Links |
UA library record |
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Impact Factor |
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Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: NA |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:204707 |
Serial |
9243 |
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Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Barich, H.; Voet, O.; Sleegers, N.; Schram, J.; Montiel, F.N.; Beltran, V.; Nuyts, G.; De Wael, K. |
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Title |
Selecting optimal carbon inks for fabricating high-performance screen-printed electrodes for diverse electroanalytical applications |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2024 |
Publication |
Journal of electroanalytical chemistry : an international journal devoted to all aspects of electrode kynetics, interfacial structure, properties of electrolytes, colloid and biological electrochemistry. |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
971 |
Issue |
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Pages |
118585-11 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab); Antwerp engineering, PhotoElectroChemistry & Sensing (A-PECS) |
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Abstract |
Carbon-based screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) are extensively employed in electrochemistry due to their reproducibility, low-cost production, disposability and versatility. It is commonly accepted that batch to batch variations may occur due to variations in the ink formulation or the use of a different ink to print the electrodes. In this paper, three different commercial carbon-based inks (DuPont, Loctite and SunChemical) were used to manufacture SPEs, referred to respectively as Dup-SPE, Loc-SPE and Sun-SPE, using a semi-automated screen-printing technology. This study focuses on evaluating the quality, characteristics and electrochemical performance of the fabricated SPEs. Furthermore, the study aimed to investigate potential correlations between the ink composition and the nature of different target molecules, as well as their electroanalytical responses. Specifically, phenolic compounds and cocaine cutting agents are tested in alkaline conditions, while benzodiazepines and cephalosporine antibiotics are investigated in acidic media using square wave voltammetry (SWV). This aims to extract insights for the proper selection of inks and SPEs in both conditions. Additionally, a scan rate study of cephalosporine antibiotics using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) is performed confirming the ion-exchange polymer layer on the electrode surface of Loc-SPE, which impact surface and electrochemical properties, leading to drawbacks in alkaline SWV sensing, but strategic benefits in reductive sensing resulting in an enhanced selective detection of specific targets. The insights on ink-specific influences on the surface and electrochemical properties of the SPEs obtained, may be useful for facilitating the electrode selection in diverse electrochemical applications, emphasizing the critical role of ink composition in achieving desired sensing capabilities. |
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Wos |
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Publication Date |
2024-08-15 |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
1572-6657; 1873-2569 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record |
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Impact Factor |
4.5 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 4.5; 2024 IF: 3.012 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:207447 |
Serial |
9314 |
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Permanent link to this record |
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Author |
Mazurkow, J.M.; Montiel, F.N.; Van Echelpoel, R.; Kusior, A.; De Wael, K. |
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Title |
The potential of electrochemical sensors to unveil counterfeits : Xanax as a case study |
Type |
A1 Journal article |
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Year |
2024 |
Publication |
Electrochimica acta |
Abbreviated Journal |
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Volume |
494 |
Issue |
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Pages |
144458-8 |
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Keywords |
A1 Journal article; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab); Antwerp engineering, PhotoElectroChemistry & Sensing (A-PECS) |
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Abstract |
The illicit drug market has been constantly evolving in the last decades, with a significant rise in counterfeit medicines posing serious public health risks. Benzodiazepines (BZDs) such as alprazolam (generally sold under the brand name Xanax), have particularly become the target of counterfeiting efforts due to their addictive nature and upsurge of unregulated designer BZDs. These counterfeit versions frequently resemble legitimate products but contain harmful adulterants or other potent illicit substances. Few methods have been developed to tackle counterfeit pills, usually limited to accurate and sophisticated laboratory equipment. This study explores the feasibility of combining electrochemical fingerprinting with data analysis to overcome the limitations of traditional methods. First, the electrochemical behavior of selected BZDs is studied, and analytical parameters such as pH are optimized. Then, the electroanalysis of common adulterants and illicit drugs is addressed and integrated into a user-friendly app, including a flowchart system. The proposed electrochemical strategy enables the detection of counterfeit Xanax by identifying the presence or absence of alprazolam. It also allows determination of the alprazolam content within a pill while meeting the fundamental requirements of the end users. This study represents an on-site methodology to address the growing challenges posed by BZDs, easily transferable to counterfeit medicines from other drug groups. |
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Wos |
001244860300001 |
Publication Date |
2024-05-18 |
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Series Editor |
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Abbreviated Series Title |
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Series Volume |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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ISSN |
0013-4686 |
ISBN |
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Additional Links |
UA library record; WoS full record |
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Impact Factor |
6.6 |
Times cited |
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Open Access |
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Notes |
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Approved |
Most recent IF: 6.6; 2024 IF: 4.798 |
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Call Number |
UA @ admin @ c:irua:206519 |
Serial |
9321 |
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Permanent link to this record |