Multivariate Analysis Aided Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (MVA-SERS) Multiplex Quantitative Detection of Trace Fentanyl in Illicit Drug Mixtures Using a Handheld Raman Spectrometer

Recently there has been upsurge in reports that illicit seizures of cocaine and heroin have been adulterated with fentanyl. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) provides a useful alternative to current screening procedures that permits detection of trace levels of fentanyl in mixtures. Samples are solubilized and allowed to interact with aggregated colloidal nanostars to produce a rapid and sensitive assay. In this study, we present the quantitative determination of fentanyl in heroin and cocaine using SERS, using a point-and-shoot handheld Raman system. Our protocol is optimized to detect pure fentanyl down to 0.20 +/- 0.06 ng/mL and can also distinguish pure cocaine and heroin at ng/mL levels. Multiplex analysis of mixtures is enabled by combining SERS detection with principal component analysis and super partial least squares regression discriminate analysis (SPLS-DA), which allow for the determination of fentanyl as low as 0.05% in simulated seized heroin and 0.10% in simulated seized cocaine samples.