Electrochemical detection of fentanyl using screen-printed carbon electrodes with confirmatory analysis of fentanyl and its analogs in oral fluid using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract

Electrochemical detection of fentanyl using screen-printed carbon electrodes with confirmatory analysis of fentanyl and its analogs in oral fluid using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry Colby Ott Utilizing screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs), a fast, simple, and sensitive approach toward the detection, identification, and quasi-quantitation of fentanyl was achieved both in an electrochemical cell and as a drop on the electrode surface. Electro-oxidation of fentanyl at the electrode was demonstrated using adsorptive stripping square-wave voltammetry between-0.5 V and +1.6 V with 100 mM Tris-HCl buffer at pH 8.5 as supporting electrolyte. Parameter optimization was conducted during method development to include supporting electrolyte and pH, electrochemical technique, pre-treatment and equilibration time, and various surface modifications. The simplest method utilizing an unmodified SPCE was determined to be appropriate for the identification of fentanyl. Electro-oxidation of the fentanyl compound was observed to occur as an irreversible process due to both diffusion to the electrode surface and oxidation of adsorbed species on the working electrode. Chapter 3: Results and Discussion.