The Detection of Biomarkers and Cocaine in Fingernails Using Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FT-IR) provides portable and rapid analysis of biomarkers drugs within fingernails. Fingernails offer a suitable alternative to traditional biological matrices provide advantages such as non-invasive collection requiring small sample sizes. This work utilized ATR-FT-IR for detecting cocaine were analyzed initially “as received” identify carbohydrates, lipids, proteins over the range 650–4000 cm-1. Spectra collected fingernails before after spiking with hydrochloride. Measurements taken at one week up six weeks. Principal component (PCA) revealed distinct clusters PC scores cocaine-spiked versus unspiked Findings showed that could characterize based on intrinsic components presence or absence them.