Development of a sensitive MEKC-LIF method for synthetic cathinones analysis

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Forensic Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Synthetic cathinones are prevalent drugs of abuse, posing public health risks.
• Accurate analytical methods are crucial for regulating these substances.
• Existing methods face challenges in separating structurally similar synthetic cathinones.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a fast and cost-effective analytical method for synthetic cathinones.
• To improve the separation of isobaric and positional isomers of synthetic cathinones.
• To establish a reliable tool for monitoring and regulating synthetic cathinones.

Main Methods:

• Capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection.
• Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with novel alkyl polyethylene glycol ether surfactants.
• Analysis of fourteen synthetic cathinone compounds, including isomers.

Main Results:

• Successfully separated a panel of fourteen synthetic cathinones, including challenging isomers.
• Alkyl polyethylene glycol ether surfactants provided necessary selectivity for FITC-labeled analytes.
• Achieved high sensitivity with limits of detection (LOD) ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 nM.

Conclusions:

• The developed CE-LIF method is suitable for rapid and cost-effective analysis of synthetic cathinones.
• This method offers improved selectivity for complex mixtures of synthetic cathinones.
• The technique provides a valuable tool for forensic and public health applications.