Forensic electrochemistry: Electrochemical study and quantification of xylazine in pharmaceutical and urine samples

Author(s)

Mendes, Leticia Francine ^[1] ; Souza e Silva, Angela Rodrigues ^[2] ; Bacil, Raphael Prata ^[1] ; Pires Serrano, Silvia Helena ^[1] ; Angnes, Lucio ^[1] ; Longo Cesar Paixao, Thiago Regis ^[1] ; de Araujo, William Reis ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Dept Fundamental Chem, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ ABC, Ctr Math Computat & Cognit, BR-09606045 Sao Bernardo Do Campo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Estadual Campinas, UNICAMP, Dept Analyt Chem, Inst Chem, POB 6154, BR-13083970 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Electrochimica Acta; v. 295, p. 726-734, FEB 1 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Xylazine is marketed as a veterinary drug and used for sedative and analgesic purposes; it is not approved for human use due to various side effects. In recent years, xylazine has emerged as a drug of abuse and has been associated with drug-facilitated sexual assaults. Herein, we describe, for the first time, the electrochemical study of xylazine in aqueous and organic media and proposed a quantification method using glassy carbon electrode. The simple and accurate quantification method was performed using differential pulse voltammetry. Under the optimized experimental conditions, a linear analytical curve was obtained for xylazine concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 256 mu mol L-1, with an estimated detection limit of 120 nmol L-1. The proposed method was applied to determination of xylazine in pharmaceutical formulation. Furthermore, to forensic scenario, a standard addition technique on urine samples exhibited recovery values in the range of 93-103%, demonstrating the potentiality to forensic and clinical analysis of xylazine intoxication. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/10522-5 - Development of alternative methods for fabrication of electrochemical paper-based sensors
• Grantee: Thiago Regis Longo Cesar da Paixão
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/08539-1 - Multi-User Equipment approved in grant 2014/15962-5: ion trap mass spectrometer modified to perform infrared vibrational spectroscopy (IRMPD)
• Grantee: Thiago Carita Correra
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 16/16477-9 - Fabrication of portable paper-based analytical devices with electrochemical and colorimetric detection system aiming at forensic, clinical, and environmental applications
• Grantee: William Reis de Araujo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 12/06642-1 - Formation and properties of adducts of organic hydroxy-compounds with carbonate in aqueous medium and biological conditions
• Grantee: Claudimir Lucio Do Lago
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants