Development and validation of Hand-held device for the rapid detection of Metformin in biological samples: A forensic application

Metformin is a widely used anti-diabetic drug that enhances glycaemic control by advancing the insulin sensitivity abatement of intestinal glucose absorption. Due to its versatility, it is also emerging as an abused drug leading to toxicity and fatal conditions. Detection of metformin with the existing qualitative and quantitative approaches necessitate complex and intricate instrumentation, fully facilitated laboratories, and trained scientist and technicians. Henceforth, in the current study, we have developed a hand-held electronic device-based detection system for metformin using the basic principles of spectrophotometry. It is based on the formation of a yellowish-green color complex (wavelength 680nm) which involves the oxidative coupling of 3-methyl 2-benzothiozoline hydrazone (MBTH) catalyzed by iron. The method developed has been optimized at different pH, reaction temperature, and reaction time and found to be specific, sensitive, and linear in the range of concentration 100-1000 µg/ml with the limit of detection (LOD) of 120.5 µg/ml.

URN:NBN:sciencein.cbl.2023.v10.486