State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Investigations
In forensic chemistry, when investigating seized illicit drugs, the profiling or chemical fingerprinting of drugs is considered fundamental. This involves the identification, quantitation and categorization of drug samples into groups, providing investigative leads such as a common or different orig...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/19/6602 |
| _version_ | 1827653733501108224 |
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| author | Reem Ahmed Mohamad J. Altamimi Mayssa Hachem |
| author_facet | Reem Ahmed Mohamad J. Altamimi Mayssa Hachem |
| author_sort | Reem Ahmed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In forensic chemistry, when investigating seized illicit drugs, the profiling or chemical fingerprinting of drugs is considered fundamental. This involves the identification, quantitation and categorization of drug samples into groups, providing investigative leads such as a common or different origin of seized samples. Further goals of drug profiling include the elucidation of synthetic pathways, identification of adulterants and impurities, as well as identification of a drug’s geographic origin, specifically for plant-derived exhibits. The aim of this state-of-art-review is to present the traditional and advanced analytical approaches commonly followed by forensic chemists worldwide for illicit drug profiling. We discussed numerous methodologies for the physical and chemical profiling of organic and inorganic impurities found in illicit drug. Applications of powerful spectroscopic and chromatographic tools for illicit drug profiling including isotope-Ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were discussed. Altogether, the techniques covered in this paper to profile seized illicit drugs could aid forensic chemists in selecting and applying a suitable method to extract valuable profiling data. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:23:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-89042cde5981469ea48a28ab0ffa92a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:23:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-89042cde5981469ea48a28ab0ffa92a42023-11-23T21:14:07ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492022-10-012719660210.3390/molecules27196602State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic InvestigationsReem Ahmed0Mohamad J. Altamimi1Mayssa Hachem2Department of Chemistry, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab EmiratesDubai Police, General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology, Forensic Chemistry Section, Dubai P.O. Box 1493, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Chemistry and Healthcare Engineering Innovation Center, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 127788, United Arab EmiratesIn forensic chemistry, when investigating seized illicit drugs, the profiling or chemical fingerprinting of drugs is considered fundamental. This involves the identification, quantitation and categorization of drug samples into groups, providing investigative leads such as a common or different origin of seized samples. Further goals of drug profiling include the elucidation of synthetic pathways, identification of adulterants and impurities, as well as identification of a drug’s geographic origin, specifically for plant-derived exhibits. The aim of this state-of-art-review is to present the traditional and advanced analytical approaches commonly followed by forensic chemists worldwide for illicit drug profiling. We discussed numerous methodologies for the physical and chemical profiling of organic and inorganic impurities found in illicit drug. Applications of powerful spectroscopic and chromatographic tools for illicit drug profiling including isotope-Ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), gas chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-IRMS), ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), thin layer chromatography (TLC), liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were discussed. Altogether, the techniques covered in this paper to profile seized illicit drugs could aid forensic chemists in selecting and applying a suitable method to extract valuable profiling data.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/19/6602illicit drugsdrug profilinganalytical approachesforensic investigation |
| spellingShingle | Reem Ahmed Mohamad J. Altamimi Mayssa Hachem State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Investigations Molecules illicit drugs drug profiling analytical approaches forensic investigation |
| title | State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Investigations |
| title_full | State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Investigations |
| title_fullStr | State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Investigations |
| title_full_unstemmed | State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Investigations |
| title_short | State-of-the-Art Analytical Approaches for Illicit Drug Profiling in Forensic Investigations |
| title_sort | state of the art analytical approaches for illicit drug profiling in forensic investigations |
| topic | illicit drugs drug profiling analytical approaches forensic investigation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/19/6602 |
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