Synthetic cathinones are phenylalkylamine compounds related to natural cathinone from Catha edulis leaves. Due to their sympathomimetic effects comparable to common illicit drugs, these substances are mainly drugs of abuse and constitute the second most frequently seized group of new psychoactive substances. In order to ensure their regulation and to promote public health, reliable analytical tools are required to track these substances. In the present study, we developed a CE hyphenated to laser‐induced fluorescence detection method to demonstrate its suitability to perform fast and cost‐effective synthetic cathinones analysis. Fourteen compounds including isobaric compounds and position isomers were selected to encompass the large panel of chemical structures. To separate the FITC‐labeled analytes (presenting the same negative charge and close mass to charge ratios), MEKC separation mode was selected. Method selectivity was not suitable using common surfactants. In this context, alkyl polyethylene glycol ether surfactants were successfully used as neutral surfactant to overcome this analytical challenge. The effect of surfactant nature on separation performances and migration behaviors of the analytes was also studied. Optimal BGE composition included 75 mM borate buffer at pH 9.3 and 0.4 mM of C12E10 surfactant. Final MEKC separation conditions were proposed to analyze a large panel of synthetic cathinones. This method helped to reach a sensitivity with LOD from 0.1 to 0.4 nM (pg/mL order).

中文翻译：

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开发用于合成卡西酮分析的灵敏 MEKC-LIF 方法

合成卡西酮是与来自Catha edulis的天然卡西酮相关的苯烷基胺化合物树叶。由于它们的拟交感神经作用可与普通非法药物相媲美，这些物质主要是滥用药物，构成第二大最常缉获的新型精神活性物质。为了确保对其进行监管并促进公众健康，需要可靠的分析工具来跟踪这些物质。在本研究中，我们开发了一种与激光诱导荧光检测方法联用的 CE，以证明其适用于进行快速且具有成本效益的合成卡西酮分析。选择了包括同量异位化合物和位置异构体在内的十四种化合物以涵盖大量化学结构。为了分离 FITC 标记的分析物（呈现相同的负电荷和接近的质荷比），选择了 MEKC 分离模式。方法选择性不适合使用普通表面活性剂。在这种情况下，烷基聚乙二醇醚表面活性剂被成功地用作中性表面活性剂来克服这一分析挑战。还研究了表面活性剂性质对分析物分离性能和迁移行为的影响。最佳 BGE 组合物包括 75 mM 硼酸盐缓冲液（pH 9.3）和 0.4 mM C12E10 表面活性剂。提出了最终的 MEKC 分离条件以分析大量合成卡西酮。该方法有助于达到灵敏度为 0.1 至 0.4 nM（pg/mL 级）的 LOD。还研究了表面活性剂性质对分析物分离性能和迁移行为的影响。最佳 BGE 组合物包括 75 mM 硼酸盐缓冲液（pH 9.3）和 0.4 mM C12E10 表面活性剂。提出了最终的 MEKC 分离条件以分析大量合成卡西酮。该方法有助于达到灵敏度为 0.1 至 0.4 nM（pg/mL 级）的 LOD。还研究了表面活性剂性质对分析物分离性能和迁移行为的影响。最佳 BGE 组合物包括 75 mM 硼酸盐缓冲液（pH 9.3）和 0.4 mM C12E10 表面活性剂。提出了最终的 MEKC 分离条件以分析大量合成卡西酮。该方法有助于达到灵敏度为 0.1 至 0.4 nM（pg/mL 级）的 LOD。