The development of novel optical screening tests for the presumptive identification of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in seized illicit materials
- Publication Type:
- Thesis
- Issue Date:
- 2018
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The large and increasing number of illicit materials seized each year combined with the introduction of many new psychoactive substances (NPS) to the traditional drug market are concerning realities. The need for simple presumptive field tests able to accurately detect compounds such as synthetic cathinones with good sensitivity is apparent. Field testing is an important tool for law enforcement officers to obtain rapid feedback regarding an unknown substance while awaiting confirmatory analysis results often in a backlog.
Chemical reactions selective toward the synthetic cathinone molecular structure were investigated for their application as a receptor element in an optical screening test. Oximations, hydrazone formations, semicarbazide formations and metal complexation were examined with a number of cathinone analogues. As an alternative to chemical reactions, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) selective toward synthetic cathinone compounds were prepared, optimised and tested for their selective binding ability.
The synthetic cathinone class of compounds failed to show significant reactivity with the reagents selected under a range of experimental conditions. However, their ability to actively reduce the cupric ion of a copper-neocuproine complex to afford a yellow-orange coloured product was observed. This colour test was optimised, validated and later improved upon to increase useability in the field as an optical screening test. The MIPs showed potential in selectively recognising the presence of the target cathinone molecule through binding studies performed, however, before the polymer can be used as a receptor, further optimisation is required.
The three receptors investigated provided different degrees of success. The chemical colour test was successfully developed into a protocol for application in field testing of cathinones; the MIPs showed some potential for further investigation and application in a different protocol for cathinone detection; and the use of chemical reactions for tagging purposes was not achieved due to the inherently unreactive carbonyl group of the cathinone molecular structure. Nonetheless, this research provided significant and useful chemical analysis of the synthetic cathinone class of NPS, while raising awareness of current deficiencies in the presumptive identification of NPS.
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