Sensing the Anti-Epileptic Drug Perampanel with Paper-Based Spinning SERS Substrates

The applications of SERS in therapeutic drug monitoring, or other fields of analytical chemistry, require the availability of sensitive sensors and experimental approaches that can be implemented in affordable ways. In this contribution, we show the production of cost-effective SERS sensors obtained by depositing Lee-Meisel Ag colloids on filter paper either by natural sedimentation or centrifugation. We have characterized the morphological and plasmonic features of the sensors by optical microscopy, SEM, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Such sensors can be used to quantify by SERS the anti-epileptic drug Perampanel (in the concentration range 1 × 10⁻⁴–5 × 10⁻⁶ M) by spinning them during the micro-Raman measurements on the top of a custom device obtained from spare part hard disk drives. This approach minimizes laser-induced heating effects and allows averaging over the spatial non-uniformity of the sensor.     

One step synthesis of 1,5-diaryl pyridin-2(1H)-ones from 2-aryl vinamidinium salts and N-aryl cyanoacetamides

A one step, direct method for the synthesis of 1,5-diaryl pyridin-2(1H)-one derivatives by condensation of 2-aryl vinamidinium salts with N-aryl cyanoacetamides has been developed. This method can conveniently provide the corresponding 1,5-diaryl pyridin-2(1H)-one derivatives with various substituents in good yields and overcome the drawbacks of existing methods such as poor substrate scope, heavy metal pollution, and low yields. The formation mechanism of the products was illustrated.