Combining surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and paper spray mass spectrometry for the identification and confirmation of psychotropic substances in alcoholic beverages

Criminal practices in which an individual becomes vulnerable and prone to sexual assault after ingesting drinks spiked with doping substances have become a social concern globally. As forensic protocols require a multi-tiered strategy for chemical evidentiary analysis, the backlog of evidence has become a significant problem in the community. Herein, a fast, sensible, and complementary dual analytical methodology was developed using a single commercial paper substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS) analysis to identify psychotropic substances added to alcoholic beverages irrefutably. To study and investigate this criminal practice, pharmaceutical formulations containing distinct psychotropic substances (zolpidem, clonazepam, diazepam, and ketamine) were added to drinks typically consumed at parties and festivals (Pilsen beer, açaí Catuaba®, gin tonic, and vodka mixed with Coca-Cola Zero®). A simple liquid–liquid extraction with a low-temperature partitioning (LLE-LTP) procedure was applied to the drinks and effectively minimized matrix effects. As a preliminary analysis, SERS spectra combined with Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA) provided sufficient information to investigate the samples further. The presence of the protonated species for the psychotropic substances in the spiked drinks was readily verified in the mass spectra and confirmed by tandem mass spectrometry. Finally, the results demonstrate the potential of this methodology to be easily implemented into the routine of forensic laboratories and to be further employed at harm reduction tends at parties and festivals to detect contaminated beverages promptly and irrefutably as an efficient tool to prevent such crimes.     

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正Each of the sections below provides essential information for authors.We recommend that you take the time to read them before submitting a contribution to Acta Mechanica Sinica.We hope our guide to authors may help you navigate to the appropriate section.How to prepare a submission This document provides an outline of the editorial process involved in publishing a scientific paper in Acta Mechanica Sinica.     

Chinese Journal of Polymer Science

正Aims and Scope Chinese Journal of Polymer Science(CJPS)is a monthly journal published in English and sponsored by the Chinese Chemical Society and the Institute of Chemistry,Chinese Academy of Sciences.CJPS is edited by a distinguished Editorial Board headed by Professor Fosong Wang and supported by an International Advisory Board in which many famous active polymer scientists all over the world are included.The journal was first published in 1983 under the title