Identification of synthetic cathinones in biological samples: A review of recent advances of forensic analytical strategies

Synthetic cathinones represent a major and rapidly evolving subclass of new psychoactive substances. Due to their potent central nervous system-stimulating effects and psychoactive properties, these compounds have become a primary focus of forensic science and toxicology laboratories worldwide. The abuse or acute overdose of these substances often leads to extremely severe health consequences, posing a significant threat to global public health and safety. With the continuous tightening of legislation, the molecular structures of synthetic cathinones have undergone rapid mutation. This necessitates the development of more advanced and sensitive analytical strategies to achieve accurate detection and identification of target compounds within complex biological samples. This review systematically summarizes the recent advances in the forensic analysis of synthetic cathinones over the past five years. It provides an in-depth discussion of biological sample pretreatment techniques, including the latest trends towards miniaturization and green chemistry principles. Regarding instrumental analysis, this review comprehensively evaluates analytical methods for synthetic cathinones and delves into the challenges of "structural elucidation" for novel analogs and positional isomers. Finally, by incorporating recent typical cases of poisoning and polydrug abuse, this review offers a detailed reference and technical support for addressing the threats associated with synthetic cathinone abuse.