ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Recent studies for cocaine detection: an overview

Briyitte S. S. Torres and Ana Paula S. Paim

Departamento de Química Fundamental, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil

E-mail: ana.paim@ufpe.br

Abstract:

Based on the review conducted, this article takes a historical, medical, chemical, physical, and forensic journey to delve deeper into the tropane alkaloid, cocaine. Cocaine (CN) is a recreational drug that causes addiction due to modifications in the mechanisms of interaction and dopamine release in the body. The determination of cocaine, its salt, and metabolites has been carried out for years using complex methodologies that scientists and forensic teams have used to simplify without compromising the quality, specificity, selectivity, and sensitivity of whatever method they employed. In this context, the article examines the compound from its definition and historical background to its medical implications and physicochemical properties, with a particular focus on alternative methods of detection. It considers the most recent research exploring biosensors, electrochemical sensors, and optical sensors that aim to improve the deficiencies presented by some traditional methods, such as false positives or false negatives, long waiting times, and difficult handling.

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-05049-0

Chemical Papers 80 (11) 12511–12528 (2026)