Her præsenterer vi en enkel, billig og selektiv kemiske spot testprotokol til påvisning af syntetiske cathinones, en klasse af nye psykoaktive stoffer. Protokollen er egnet til brug i forskellige områder af de retshåndhævende myndigheder, der støder på ulovlige materiale.
Syntetiske cathinones er en stor klasse af nye psykoaktive stoffer (NPS), som er stadig mere udbredt i stof beslaglæggelser foretaget af de retshåndhævende myndigheder og andre border protection agenturer globalt. Farve test er en formodede identifikationsteknik med angivelse af tilstedeværelsen eller fraværet af et bestemt lægemiddel klasse ved hjælp af hurtig og ukompliceret kemiske metoder. På grund af deres relativt nylige fremkomst er en farve test for specifik identifikation af syntetiske cathinones ikke tilgængelig i øjeblikket. I denne undersøgelse, vi indføre en protokol for den formodede identifikation af syntetiske cathinones, beskæftiger tre vandig reagens løsninger: copper(II) nitrat, 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine) og natriumacetat. Lille pin-hoved størrelse beløb (ca 0,1-0,2 mg) af de mistænkte stoffer er føjet til brønde i en porcelænsskål spot plade, og hver reagens derefter tilsættes dråbevis sekventielt før opvarmning på en kogeplade. Et farveskift fra meget lys blå til gul-orange efter 10 min angiver den sandsynlige tilstedeværelse af syntetisk cathinones. Meget stabil og specifikke test reagens har potentiale til brug i den formodede screening af ukendte prøver til syntetiske cathinones i et retsmedicinsk laboratorium. Men gener af en ekstra varme trin til farve ændring resultat begrænser test laboratorium anvendelsen og mindsker sandsynligheden for en nem oversættelse til feltforsøg.
Ulovlig narkotikamarkedet fungerer på samme måde til en traditionel virksomhed ved fortsat at udvikle og tilpasse sig et skiftende markedsplads. Moderne teknologiske fremskridt, specielt, den globale spredning af magtfulde kommunikation har set øget online køb via mørke Net1 og omfattende videndeling blandt brugere via online-fora2. Kombineret med fremskridt inden for kemi, den hurtige fremkomsten af nye psykoaktive stoffer (NPS) skabt en alvorlig udfordring for international og national drug control.
NPS er potentielt farlige stoffer af misbrug, som har lignende virkninger til narkotika under international kontrol. Oprindeligt markedsført som “juridiske” alternativer, blev 739 NPS rapporteret til de Forenede Nationers Kontor for narkotika og kriminalitet (UNODC) mellem 2009 og 20163. Ifølge den seneste årsrapport, blev et rekordstort antal NPS beslaglagt på den australske grænse, med fleste af disse analyseret, yderligere identificeret som syntetiske cathinones4. På globalt plan, anfald af syntetiske cathinones har været støt stigende siden først rapporteret i 2010, og er en af de mest almindeligt beslaglagte NPS5.
Udfordringerne i forbindelse med NPS har været et stort set offentliggjorte emne for diskussion6,7. Retsvidenskabelige laboratorier og retshåndhævende personale blev efterladt i en ugunstig situation uden passende metoder til at opdage og identificere NPS under deres hurtige fremkomst. Omfattende forskning i påvisning af NPS, herunder syntetiske cathinones, i beslaglagte materiale, har ansat gaskromatografi-massespektrometri (GC-MS)8 og liquid chromatography-høj opløsning massespektrometri (LC-HRMS)9 for bekræftende analyse. Stigende efterspørgsel efter minimal prøveforberedelse har set infrarød og Raman spektroskopi10 undersøgelser samt omgivende ionisering massespektrometrisk analyser, som direkte analyse i realtid massespektrometri (DART-MS)11, 12. behovet for hurtige, følsomme analyse på området har også set indarbejdelse af papir spray ionisering-massespektrometri (PSI-MS) i bærbare enheder til brug ved lov retshåndhævende13. Mange instrumentale teknikker tilbyde konfirmatoriske analyser med følsomme påvisning og kvantitative resultater. For høj overførselshastighed analyse, kan de dog være tidskrævende prøveforberedelse, køre gange, og instrument uddannelse og vedligeholdelse.
Formodede farve test er designet til at antyde tilstedeværelsen eller fraværet af visse narkotika klasser i en test stikprøven14. Den videnskabelige arbejdsgruppe for analyse af beslaglagt narkotika (SWGDRUG) klassificerer farve test som den laveste udslagsgivende kraft teknik, sammen med ultraviolet spektroskopi og immunassays15. Men de er stadig i vid udstrækning ansat af de retshåndhævende myndigheder og andre sikringspersonale som et middel til at give hurtige resultater med betydeligt lavere omkostninger sammenlignet med andre teknikker. Den største fordel tilbydes af farve spot testmetoder er evnen til at udføre dem i feltet ved hjælp af bærbare testkit.
Selektivitet farve test bygger på individuelle kemiske reaktioner mellem test reagens og narkotika klasse af interesse at skabe en farveændring. Nuværende formodede testprotokoller mangler en bestemt test til påvisning af syntetiske cathinones kun; almindeligt anvendte reagenser, der mangler specificitet og indeholder farlige stoffer er ofte ansat. Andre anbefalede reagenser er ikke blevet screenet på et stort antal mulige syntetiske cathinone stoffer16.
Formålet med dette arbejde er at præsentere en enkel farve testprotokol, som let kan anvendes af interesserede parter for den indledende screening af syntetiske cathinones med ulovlige stoffer af ukendt sammensætning. Interesserede parter ville omfatte retshåndhævelse, border protection agenturer, retsvidenskabelige laboratorier, og andre relevante sikkerhedspersonalet. De foreslåede metoder ansætte en reduktion-oxidation reaktion forekommer mellem den elektron-accept kobber komplekse reagens og elektron rige syntetiske cathinone drug molekyler. Med disse kemiske metoder udviklet, kan man anvende dem i form af en Præsumptive farve test tyder på tilstedeværelsen af syntetisk cathinones.
Denne farve testprotokol blev tilpasset fra eksperimentelt arbejde udgivet af Al-Obaid mfl. 18 , hvor forfatterne demonstreret et farveskift opstår i overværelse af cathinone udvundet af khat planten. Ændringer i den publicerede protokol var nødvendigt at forudse dens anvendelse i formodede ulovlig narkotika afsløring. Den vigtigste overvejelse var at mindske omfanget af reaktionen. Den protokol, der er beskrevet i den nuværende papir er designet til at blive anvendt på gaden prøv…
The authors have nothing to disclose.
Forfatterne vil gerne anerkende den støtte til Morgan Philp gennem en australske regering forskning uddannelse Program stipendium.
Chemicals | |||
Reagents and solvents | |||
neocuproine hemihydrate | Sigma-Aldrich | 72090 | ≥99.0%. Acute toxicity |
copper(II) nitrate trihydrate | Sigma Aldrich | 61197 | 98.0%-103% |
sodium acetate | Ajax Finechem | AJA680 | anhydrous |
hydrochloric acid | RCI Labscan | RP 1106 | 36%. Corrosive |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Powders | |||
ascorbic acid | AJAX Finechem UNIVAR | 104 | L |
benzocaine | Sigma-Aldrich | E1501 | |
benzoic acid | Sigma-Aldrich | 242381 | ≥99.5% |
boric acid | Silform Chemicals | R27410 | |
caffeine | Sigma-Aldrich | C0750 | |
cellulose | Sigma-Aldrich | 435236 | microcrystalline |
calcium chloride | AJAX Finechem UNILAB | 960 | |
citric acid | AJAX Finechem UNIVAR | 160 | |
codeine phosphate | Glaxo | – | Acute toxicity |
cysteine | Sigma-Aldrich | 168149 | L |
dimethylsulfone | Sigma-Aldrich | M81705 | 98% |
ephedrine HCl | Sigma-Aldrich | 285749 | 99%. Acute toxicity |
glucose | AJAX Finechem UNIVAR | 783 | D, anhydrous |
glutathione | AJAX Finechem UNILAB | 234 | |
glycine | AJAX Finechem UNIVAR | 1083 | |
lactose | Sigma | L254 | D, monohydrate |
levamisole HCl | Sigma-Aldrich | PHR1798 | Acute toxicity |
magnesium sulphate | Scharlau | MA0080 | anhydrous, extra pure |
maltose | AJAX Finechem LABCHEM | 1126 | Bacteriological |
mannitol | AJAX Finechem UNIVAR | 310 | |
O-acetylsalicylic Acid | Sigma-Aldrich | A5376 | |
phenethylamine | Sigma-Aldrich | 241008 | |
phenolphthalein | AJAX Finechem LABCHEM | 368 | Acute toxicity |
potassium carbonate | Chem-Supply | PA021 | AR, anhydrous |
sodium carbonate | Chem-Supply | SA099 | AR, anhydrous |
sodium chloride | Rowe Scientific | CC10363 | |
starch | AJAX Finechem UNILAB | 1254 | soluble |
stearic acid | AJAX Finechem UNILAB | 1255 | |
sucrose | AJAX Finechem UNIVAR | 530 | |
tartaric acid | AJAX Finechem UNIVAR | 537 | (+) |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Household products | |||
artificial sweetener | ALDI Be Light | n/a | Contains aspartame |
brown sugar | CSR | n/a | |
icing sugar | CSR | n/a | |
caster sugar | CSR | n/a | |
paracetamol tablet | Panadol | n/a | |
protein powder | Aussie Bodies ProteinFX | n/a | |
self-raising | Woolworths Australia Homebrand | n/a | |
plain flour | Woolworths Australia Homebrand | n/a | |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Reference compounds | controlled or illegal substances | ||
Cathinone-type substances | |||
1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-1-propanone HCl (MOPPP) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1024 | Acute toxicity potential |
1-phenyl-2-methylamino-pentan-1-one HCl | Lipomed | PTD-1507-HC | Acute toxicity potential |
2,3-dimethylmethcathinone HCl (2,3-DMMC) | Chiron Chemicals | 10970.12 | Acute toxicity potential |
2,4,5-trimethylmethcathinone HCl (2,4,5-TMMC) | Chiron Chemicals | 10927.13 | Acute toxicity potential |
2,4-dimethylmethcathinone HCl (2,4-DMMC) | Chiron Chemicals | 10971.12 | Acute toxicity potential |
2-benzylamino-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-butanone HCl (BMDB) | Chiron Chemicals | 10925.18 | Acute toxicity potential |
2-fluoromethcathinone HCl (2-FMC) | LGC Standards | LGCFOR 1275.64 | Acute toxicity potential |
2-methylmethcathinone HCl (2-MMC) | LGC Standards | LGCFOR 1387.02 | Acute toxicity potential |
3,4-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D973 | Acute toxicity potential |
3,4-dimethylmethcathinone HCl (DMMC) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D962 | Acute toxicity potential |
3,4-methylenedioxymethcathinone HCl (MDMC) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D942 | Acute toxicity potential |
3,4-methylenedioxy-N,N-dimethylcathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D977 | Acute toxicity potential |
3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone HCl (MDPV) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D951b | Acute toxicity potential |
3-bromomethcathinone HCl (3-BMC) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1035 | Acute toxicity potential |
3-fluoromethcathinone HCl (3-FMC) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D947b | Acute toxicity potential |
3-methylmethcathinone HCl (3-MMC) | LGC Standards | LGCFOR 1387.03 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-bromomethcathinone HCl (4-BMC) | LGC Standards | LGCFOR 1387.11 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-fluoromethcathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D969 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methoxymethcathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D952 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methylethylcathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D968 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methylmethcathinone HCl (4-MMC) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D937b | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methyl-N-benzylcathinone HCl (4-MBC) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1026 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methyl-pyrrolidinopropiophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D964 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methyl-α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D974 | Acute toxicity potential |
cathinone HCl (bk-amphetamine) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D929 | Acute toxicity potential |
dibutylone HCl (bk-DMBDB) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1027 | Acute toxicity potential |
iso-ethcathinone HCl | Chiron Chemicals | 10922.11 | Acute toxicity potential |
methcathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D724 | Acute toxicity potential |
methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D960 | Acute toxicity potential |
N,N-diethylcathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D957 | Acute toxicity potential |
N,N-dimethylcathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D958 | Acute toxicity potential |
naphthylpyrovalerone HCl (naphyrone) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D981 | Acute toxicity potential |
N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxycathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D959 | Acute toxicity potential |
N-ethylbuphedrone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1013 | Acute toxicity potential |
N-ethylcathinone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D938b | Acute toxicity potential |
pentylone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D992 | Acute toxicity potential |
pyrovalerone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D985 | Acute toxicity potential |
α-dimethylaminobutyrophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1011 | Acute toxicity potential |
α-dimethylaminopentiophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1006 | Acute toxicity potential |
α-ethylaminopentiophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1005 | Acute toxicity potential |
α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone HCl (α-PBP) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D1012 | Acute toxicity potential |
α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D986b | Acute toxicity potential |
α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D956 | Acute toxicity potential |
β-keto-N-methyl-3,4-benzodioxyolylbutanamine HCl (bk-MBDB) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D948 | Acute toxicity potential |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Other substances | |||
(-)-ephedrine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | M924 | Acute toxicity potential |
(-)-methylephedrine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | M243 | Acute toxicity potential |
(+)-cathine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | M297 | Acute toxicity potential |
(+/-)- 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine HCl (MDA) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D842 | Acute toxicity potential |
(+/-)- N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine HCl (MDMA) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D792c | Acute toxicity potential |
(+/-)-methamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D816e | Acute toxicity potential |
(+/-)-N-ethyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine HCl (MDEA) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D739c | Acute toxicity potential |
(+/-)-N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butylamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D450a | Acute toxicity potential |
(+/-)-phenylpropanolamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | M296 | Acute toxicity potential |
(2S*,3R*)-2-methyl-3-[3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenyl]glycidic acid methyl ester | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D903 | Acute toxicity potential |
1-(3-chlorophenyl)piperazine HCl (mCPP) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D907 | Acute toxicity potential |
1-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperazine HCl (TFMPP) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D906 | Acute toxicity potential |
1-benzylpiperazine HCl (BZP) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D905 | Acute toxicity potential |
2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenylethylamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D922 | Acute toxicity potential |
2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine HCl (DOM) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D470b | Acute toxicity potential |
2,5-dimethoxy-4-propylthio-phenylethylamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D919 | Acute toxicity potential |
2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D749 | Acute toxicity potential |
2-bromo-4-methylpropiophenone | Synthesised in-house | n/a | Acute toxicity potential |
2-fluoroamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D946 | Acute toxicity potential |
2-fluoromethamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D933 | Acute toxicity potential |
3,4-dimethoxyamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D453b | Acute toxicity potential |
3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone (MDP2P) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D810b | Acute toxicity potential |
4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D396b | Acute toxicity potential |
4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D758b | Acute toxicity potential |
4-fluoroamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D943b | Acute toxicity potential |
4-fluorococaine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D854b | Acute toxicity potential |
4-fluoromethamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D934 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-hydroxyamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D824b | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methoxyamphetamine HCl (PMA) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D756 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methoxymethamphetamine HCl (PMMA) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D908b | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methylmethamphetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D963 | Acute toxicity potential |
4-methylpropiophenone | Sigma-Aldrich | 517925 | Acute toxicity potential |
5-methoxy-N,N-diallyltryptamine | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D954 | Acute toxicity potential |
amphetamine sulphate | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D420d | Acute toxicity potential |
cocaine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D747b | Acute toxicity potential |
dimethamphetamine (DMA) | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D693d | Acute toxicity potential |
gamma-hydroxy butyrate | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D812b | Acute toxicity potential |
heroin HCl | LGC Standards | LGCFOR 0037.20 | Acute toxicity potential |
ketamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D686b | Acute toxicity potential |
methoxetamine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D989 | Acute toxicity potential |
methylamine HCl | Sigma-Aldrich | M0505 | Acute toxicity potential |
phencyclidine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D748 | Acute toxicity potential |
phentermine HCl | Australian Government National Measurement Institute (NMI) | D781 | Acute toxicity potential |
triethylamine | Sigma-Aldrich | T0886 | Acute toxicity, corrosive, flammable |
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
Equipment | |||
12-well porcelain spot plates | HomeScienceTools | CE-SPOTP12 | |
96-well microplates | Greiner Bio-One | 650201 | |
Hot plate | Industrial Equipment and Control Pty Ltd. | CH1920 (Scientrific) | |
100 mL glass volumetric flasks | Duran | 24 678 25 54 | |
Soda lime glass Pasteur pipettes | Marienfeld-Superior | 3233050 | 230 mm length |