Identification of Hydroxyzine hydrochloride Utilizing Electrochemistry and Time-Resolve Raman Spectroelectrochemistry On Screen-Printed Electrodes.

Kendra Kelly*, Alexis Wilcox, Colby Ott, and Luis Arroyo
Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Presentation No.: 105

Assigned Category (Presentation Format): Physical Sciences (Poster Presentations)

Student’s Major: Forensic Chemistry

Hydroxyzine, a piperazine antihistamine, is frequently utilized due to its analgesic and antianxiety effects for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory reactions and in cancer patients in conjunction with opioids. Hydroxyzine can mimic the analgesic effects of morphine and may potentiate the effect of opioids, leading to its use as a diluent in seized drugs of abuse. In addition, when >3-4 times the therapeutic dose is taken, it may lead to the potential of acute psychosis. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical analysis for this drug can provide a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective detection platform. This electrochemical study of hydroxyzine was carried out in a dibasic sodium phosphate buffer at pH 9.5 using both differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) and square-wave voltammetry (SWV) using screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE). The spectroelectrochemical study was carried out in a 0.1 M perchloric acid solution on silver electrodes. Results of these studies showed limits of detection in the low parts-per-billion range, with R2 values>0.99 and %RSD values<10%. Orthogonal detection between the two methods provided improved reliability and sensitivity of this important drug.

Funding: National Institute of Justice #2019-DU-BX-0030

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: Other