Electrochemical Methodologies for the Detection of Traditional and Emerging Illicit Drugs

Abstract

Drug abuse and drug addiction is a multifaceted problem which has for a long time had far-reaching societal and physical consequences. In recent years, these negative effects have been further exacerbated by an increase in the production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs. Furthermore, the introduction of potent synthetic analogues and compounds known as New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) to the illicit drug market and their rapid proliferation has lead to an unprecedented threat to public health and safety. As such, the necessity has grown for the development of robust screening methodologies for these compounds within forensic and clinical research. Electroanalytical chemistry has quickly become a popular and powerful tool to address such demands. Electrochemical sensors evade many of the pitfalls associated with conventional detection methods, allowing for exceptionally good analytical performance at minimal cost.Within this contribution we present the use of electrochemiluminescence (ECL) as a novel screening methodology for the detection of Synthetic Cannabinoids (SCs), which are the most prevalent group of NPS currently being monitored by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. AB-CHMICA, NE-CHMIMO, BB-22 and 5F-ADB-PINACA were all successfully detected at relevant concentrations using the developed screen-printed electrode ruthenium-based sensor. While in its infancy, these results show the potential of ECL as a screening methodology for SCs and leave much to be explored including its applicability to street and biological samples.Moreover, we aim to highlight the diversity of electrochemical techniques toward illicit drug detection via investigation into the use of wearable electrochemical sensors for the detection of traditional cannabinoids and benzodiazepines.