Electroanalytical profiling of cocaine samples by means of an electropolymerized molecularly imprinted polymer using benzocaine as the template molecule

Abstract

Cocaine samples were ‘finger-printed’ using e-MIPs, constructed on the surface of portable SPCEs. The SWV data with suitable chemometric analysis provides valuable information about the drugs’ provenience which is crucial to tackle drug traffic.

Customizable molecular recognition: advancements in design, synthesis, and application of molecularly imprinted polymers

“…Grothe et al investigated the detection of the molecule 4-amino benzoate (BZC). 117 BZC is known as a local anaesthetic that is commonly used in dentistry, but has recently been traced as a common additive circulating in drug misuse. Using electropolymerization, an electrochemical MIP (e-MIP) using BZC as a template molecule and 3-amino-4-hydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-AHBA) as a functional monomer was synthesized.…”

Applications of Molecularly Imprinted Films

“…The rebinding was detected by SWV when a detection limit of 12 nM was calculated [91]. Recently, Grothe et al [92] proposed a sensor based on MIP that allowed for detecting and identifying components from cocaine samples. Identification of the components provides important information regarding the origin of the cocaine.…”

Real‐time electrochemical screening of cocaine in lab and field settings with automatic result generation

“…Moreover, electrochemical approaches are generally inexpensive. Previous research has highlighted the potential of electrochemical approaches in illicit drug detection, mainly based on carefully developed voltammetric approaches to detect both illicit drugs and their cutting agents, either separately or simultaneously, albeit predominantly in laboratory settings 12–25 …”

“…Previous research has highlighted the potential of electrochemical approaches in illicit drug detection, mainly based on carefully developed voltammetric approaches to detect both illicit drugs and their cutting agents, either separately or simultaneously, albeit predominantly in laboratory settings. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] The foremost obstacle preventing the (commercial) use of electrochemical devices in the field is that customs personnel and other fieldworkers do not possess the necessary electrochemical knowledge to interpret the output data. To tackle this, our group developed a research line concerning an algorithm, with the purpose of bringing electrochemical methods closer to society.…”