Journal
FORENSIC CHEMISTRY
Volume 22, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.forc.2020.100293
Keywords
Detection; Mephedrone; Microfluidics; NPS; Urine
Categories
Funding
- Manchester Metropolitan University
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The study introduces a simple, low-cost, and portable paper-based Lab-on-a-Chip device with colorimetric detection for selective detection of mephedrone. It has clinically relevant limits of detection and shows potential for cost-effective, rapid, on-site testing within forensic or clinical settings, with global applicability.
4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone) has emerged in drug seizures as a new psychoactive substance (NPS) causing a public health risk of global concern. Currently, there are no commercial microfluidic devices for the selective detection of mephedrone and so this study presents a simple, low-cost and portable paper-based Lab-on a-Chip (LOC) device with colorimetric detection to fill this gap. Limits of detection for mephedrone in spiked urine and dissolved powder (aqueous) samples are clinically relevant at 4.34 ng mL(-1) and 2.51 ng mL(-1) respectively. No cross-reactivity for commonly encountered cutting agents, interferents and adulterants were detected. Mephedrone and its main metabolite were detectable in aqueous and urine samples within 3 min. Stability and reproducibility measurements showed no significant difference in signal intensity over eight weeks and no significant difference within or between devices. The proposed device has the potential to provide costeffective, rapid, on-site testing within forensic or clinical settings and therefore has wide global applicability.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available