New psychoactive drugs: A comprehensive electrochemical characterization and differential pulse voltammetric analysis of xylazine

IF 5.6 1区化学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL

Talanta Pub Date : 2025-02-12 DOI:10.1016/j.talanta.2025.127710

Alessandra Bonanni , Giancarla Alberti , Protti Stefano , Teresa Franceschini , Daniele Merli

{"title":"New psychoactive drugs: A comprehensive electrochemical characterization and differential pulse voltammetric analysis of xylazine","authors":"Alessandra Bonanni , Giancarla Alberti , Protti Stefano , Teresa Franceschini , Daniele Merli","doi":"10.1016/j.talanta.2025.127710","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Xylazine is a widely employed veterinary anesthetic that, in recent years, has also been used as a recreational drug, leading to several fatal and non-fatal intoxications. We present herein a comprehensive investigation of the electrochemical behavior of xylazine, followed by the quantification of this target analyte. Specifically, it has been found that xylazine oxidizes irreversibly on a glassy carbon electrode in ethanol/lithium perchlorate media, with an EC mechanism; the number of electrons involved in the process is equal to two. The oxidation pathway has been suggested and supported by a thorough electrochemical investigation, in which the behavior of the analyte has been compared with other model compounds.</div><div>A quantitative method was then proposed, employing differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) for the determination of xylazine in real samples. The analytical figures of merits were computed from the calibration curves obtained by analyzing standard solutions of xylazine in ethanol/lithium perchlorate medium. A LOQ of 0.2 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> and a dynamic range up to 150 μg mL<sup>−1</sup> were achieved. The method was then applied to samples simulating \"street tablets” and urine from drug consumers. The selectivity of the method, as well as the reproducibility of the results, were investigated by analyzing the interferences between common excipients and human urine components. For urine samples, a Florisil-based clean-up and preconcentration step by solid phase extraction (SPE) were carried out. The SPE strategy was optimized by a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, whereby an enrichment factor of up to 25 was obtained.</div><div>Recoveries from 87 % to 108 % were achieved on all examined samples, suggesting the good potential of the method for its application in clinical and forensic chemistry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":435,"journal":{"name":"Talanta","volume":"288 ","pages":"Article 127710"},"PeriodicalIF":5.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Talanta","FirstCategoryId":"92","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039914025001961","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, ANALYTICAL","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Xylazine is a widely employed veterinary anesthetic that, in recent years, has also been used as a recreational drug, leading to several fatal and non-fatal intoxications. We present herein a comprehensive investigation of the electrochemical behavior of xylazine, followed by the quantification of this target analyte. Specifically, it has been found that xylazine oxidizes irreversibly on a glassy carbon electrode in ethanol/lithium perchlorate media, with an EC mechanism; the number of electrons involved in the process is equal to two. The oxidation pathway has been suggested and supported by a thorough electrochemical investigation, in which the behavior of the analyte has been compared with other model compounds.

A quantitative method was then proposed, employing differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) for the determination of xylazine in real samples. The analytical figures of merits were computed from the calibration curves obtained by analyzing standard solutions of xylazine in ethanol/lithium perchlorate medium. A LOQ of 0.2 μg mL⁻¹ and a dynamic range up to 150 μg mL⁻¹ were achieved. The method was then applied to samples simulating "street tablets” and urine from drug consumers. The selectivity of the method, as well as the reproducibility of the results, were investigated by analyzing the interferences between common excipients and human urine components. For urine samples, a Florisil-based clean-up and preconcentration step by solid phase extraction (SPE) were carried out. The SPE strategy was optimized by a Design of Experiments (DoE) approach, whereby an enrichment factor of up to 25 was obtained.

Recoveries from 87 % to 108 % were achieved on all examined samples, suggesting the good potential of the method for its application in clinical and forensic chemistry.

Abstract Image

查看原文本刊更多论文

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Talanta 化学-分析化学

CiteScore

12.30

自引率

4.90%

发文量

861

审稿时长

29 days

期刊介绍： Talanta provides a forum for the publication of original research papers, short communications, and critical reviews in all branches of pure and applied analytical chemistry. Papers are evaluated based on established guidelines, including the fundamental nature of the study, scientific novelty, substantial improvement or advantage over existing technology or methods, and demonstrated analytical applicability. Original research papers on fundamental studies, and on novel sensor and instrumentation developments, are encouraged. Novel or improved applications in areas such as clinical and biological chemistry, environmental analysis, geochemistry, materials science and engineering, and analytical platforms for omics development are welcome. Analytical performance of methods should be determined, including interference and matrix effects, and methods should be validated by comparison with a standard method, or analysis of a certified reference material. Simple spiking recoveries may not be sufficient. The developed method should especially comprise information on selectivity, sensitivity, detection limits, accuracy, and reliability. However, applying official validation or robustness studies to a routine method or technique does not necessarily constitute novelty. Proper statistical treatment of the data should be provided. Relevant literature should be cited, including related publications by the authors, and authors should discuss how their proposed methodology compares with previously reported methods.