Spectroscopic and electrochemical studies of cocaine-opioid interactions

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2007 Aug;388(8):1799-808. doi: 10.1007/s00216-007-1375-z. Epub 2007 Jun 29.

Abstract

The drugs of abuse cocaine (C), heroin (H), and morphine (M) have been studied to enable understanding of the occurrence of cocaine-opioid interactions at a molecular level. Electrochemical, Raman, and NMR studies of the free drugs and their mixtures were used to study drug-drug interactions. The results were analyzed using data obtained from quantum-mechanical calculations. For the cocaine-morphine mixture (C-MH), formation of a binary complex was detected; this involved the 3-phenolic group and the heterocyclic oxygen of morphine and the carbonyl oxygen and the methyl protons of cocaine's methyl ester group. NMR studies conducted simultaneously also revealed C-MH binding geometry consistent with theoretical predictions and with electrochemical and vibrational spectroscopy results. These results provide evidence for the occurrence of a cocaine-morphine interaction, both in the solid state and in solution, particularly for the hydrochloride form. A slight interaction, in solution, was also detected by NMR for the cocaine-heroin mixture.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / chemistry*
  • Binding Sites
  • Cocaine / chemistry*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Electrochemistry
  • Morphine
  • Quantum Theory
  • Solutions
  • Spectrum Analysis

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid
  • Solutions
  • Morphine
  • Cocaine