Studying the effect of antipsychotic drug haloperidol on protein, lipid and melanin of dyed and non-dyed Caucasian hair at various pH's using micro-ATR and transflection spectroscopy techniques

Abstract

The role of cosmetic hair treatment and the pH of the environment in the incorporation and strength of retention of drugs in hair is investigated in this study. While most studies to date have focused on the commonly encountered drugs of abuse, there are also other classes of drugs, i.e., anti-depressant and anti-psychotic agents that are taking on much more forensic significance.In this study we used Micro-ATR spectroscopy to examine the structural changes in the protein and lipid of hair samples by the application of sufficient pressure on the hair samples. We observed changes in the protein and lipid bands of dyed and non-dyed hair resulting from external exposure to the antipsychotic drug haloperidol as a function of the pH of the environment. Also, by using Transflection Spectroscopy Technique, we observed the effect of haloperidol on the structure of extracted melanin at various pH's. Major changes in the structure of protein and melanin were observed.Second derivative spectra and the principal component analysis method were used to aid in data interpretation.