Laser treated carbon composites for the determination of suicide biomarkers: Development of a forensic diagnosis device

The ongoing debate about the possible link between the serotonin metabolite - 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) - and suicidal behavior requires a more robust specification of reference ranges for normal and "at risk" subjects. As such, there is a need for a revision of analytical techniques for the speedy, selective and sensitive detection of the monoamine biomarkers. A new approach to the production of a carbon composite electrode and its solvent free, laser ablative modification to enhance the performance in the detection of the neurotransmitters is presented. The integration of the electrodes within conventional chromatographic architectures is assessed and its use in the quantification of 5-HIAA within human urine has been critically evaluated and found to be superior to the HPLC-UV.