Capture and Detection of Aerosolized Fentanyl in a Suspended Electrochemical Cell

Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid that is commonly laced into other drugs. Fentanyl poses a danger to users but also to responders or bystanders who may unknowingly ingest a lethal dose (∼2 mg) of fentanyl from aerosolized powder or vapor. Electrochemistry offers a small, simple, and affordable...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2024-07, Vol.96 (26), p.10648-10653
Main Authors: Vannoy, Kathryn J., Krushinski, Lynn E., Dick, Jeffrey E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aerosols
Aerosols - analysis
Aerosols - chemistry
Analgesics, Opioid - analysis
Effectiveness
Electrochemical cells
Electrochemical Techniques
Electrochemistry
Electrodes
Evaporation
Fentanyl
Fentanyl - analysis
Hydrophobicity
Ionic liquids
Ionic Liquids - chemistry
Lethal dose
Mathematical models
Phase measurement
Vapor pressure
Vapors
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Summary:Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid that is commonly laced into other drugs. Fentanyl poses a danger to users but also to responders or bystanders who may unknowingly ingest a lethal dose (∼2 mg) of fentanyl from aerosolized powder or vapor. Electrochemistry offers a small, simple, and affordable platform for the direct detection of illicit substances; however, it is largely limited to solution-phase measurements. Here, we demonstrate the hands-free capture and electroanalyzation of aerosols containing fentanyl. A novel electrochemical cell is constructed by a microwire (cylindrical working electrode) traversing an ionic liquid film that is suspended within a conductive loop (reference/counter electrode). We provide a quantitative finite element simulation of the resulting electrochemical system. The suspended film maintains a high-surface area:volume, allowing the electrochemical cell to act as an effective aerosol collector. The low vapor pressure (negligible evaporation) of ionic liquid makes it a robust candidate for in-field applications, and the use of a hydrophobic ionic liquid allows for the extraction of fentanyl from solids and sprayed aqueous aerosols.
ISSN:0003-2700
1520-6882
1520-6882
DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01321