Pressure sensitive adhesives and paper spray-mass spectrometry for the collection and analysis of fentanyl-related compounds from shipping materials

J Forensic Sci. 2023 Jul 26. doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.15320. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe rise of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in the drug supply pose serious threats to public health. Much of these compounds enter the United States through shipping routes. Here we provide a method for fentanyl screening and analysis that utilizes pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) lined paper to recover drug residues from parcel-related surfaces. The paper used is commercially available repositionable notes (also called post-it or sticky notes). From this paper, mass spectra were obtained by paper spray-mass spectrometry (PS-MS), where PSA paper served as both a sampling and analysis substrate. Seven fentanyl-related compounds were analyzed: fentanyl, 4-anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (4-ANPP), N,1-diphenethyl-N-phenylpiperidin-4-amine (phenethyl-4-ANPP), valerylfentanyl, 4-fluoroisobutyrylfentanyl (4-FIBF), carfentanil, and p-fluorofentanyl. These compounds were recovered by PSA paper and identified by PS-MS from packaging tape and plastic at 50 ng and from cardboard and shipping labels at 100 ng. The impact of cutting agents on PS-MS analysis of fentanyl analogs was explored. No trends of analyte suppression were found at high concentrations of the cutting agents caffeine, diphenhydramine, and lidocaine when recovered from surfaces. A cartridge that required no precise cutting of PSA paper prior to sampling or analysis was evaluated for use in PS-MS for fentanyl screening. Recovery and de...
Source: Journal of Forensic Sciences - Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Source Type: research