Sensitive fluorescence and chemiluminescence procedures for methamphetamine detection based on CdS quantum dots

Luminescence-based detection and identification of illicit drugs

Luminescence-based sensing is capable of being used for the sensitive, rapid, and in some cases selective detection of chemicals. Furthermore, the method is amenable to incorporation into handheld low-power portable detectors that can be used in the field. Luminescence-based detectors are now commercially available for explosive detection with the technology built on a strong foundation of science. In contrast, there are fewer examples of luminescence-based detection of illicit drugs, despite the pervasive and global challenge of combating their manufacture, distribution and consumption and the need for handheld detection systems. This perspective describes the relatively nascent steps that have been reported in the use of luminescent materials for the detection of illicit drugs. Much of the published work has focused on detection of illicit drugs in solution with less work on vapour detection using thin luminescent sensing films. The latter are better suited for handheld sensing devices and detection in the field. Illicit drug detection has been achieved via different mechanisms, all of which change the luminescence of the sensing material. These include photoinduced hole transfer (PHT) leading to quenching of the luminescence, disruption of Förster energy transfer between different chromophores by a drug, and chemical reaction between the sensing material and a drug. The most promising of these is PHT, which can be used for rapid and reversible detection of illicit drugs in solution and film-based sensing of drugs in the vapour phase. However, there are still significant knowledge gaps, for example, how vapours of illicit drugs interact with the sensing films, and how to achieve selectivity for specific drugs.

Dual-mode biosensing platform for sensitive and portable detection of hydrogen sulfide based on cuprous oxide/gold/copper metal organic framework heterojunction

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) can not only be regarded as a critical gas signal transduction substance, but also its excess levels can lead to a range of diseases. Currently, the accurate analysis combined with electrochemical (EC) or photothermal (PT) technology for H2S in a complex biological system remains a significant challenge. Herein, an endogenous H2S-triggered heterojunction cuprous oxide/gold/copper metal organic framework (Cu2O/Au/HKUST-1) nanoprobe is designed for dual-mode EC- second near-infrared (NIR-II)/PT analysis in tumor cells with high sensitivity and simplicity. Dual-mode EC quantification - PT is achieved through "off-on" mode of EC and PT signals based on electronic transfer and biosynthesis via an in situ sulfuration reaction. Under the optimum conditions, the EC quantification mode for trace H2S exhibits a wide linear range and an excellent limit of detection of 0.1 μM. More importantly, the dual-mode can display the selective detection of trace H2S in living tumor cells because of the specific interaction between copper ion and H2S. These results provide a new EC-PT promising biosensing platform for noninvasive intelligent detection of H2S in living tumor cells.

Flow Injection Chemiluminescence Determination of Ethion and Computational Investigation of the Adsorption Process on Molecularly Imprinted Polymerized High Internal Phase Emulsion

The lack of sufficient selectivity is the main limitation of chemiluminescence (CL) methods; because the CL reagent is not restricted to a specific analyte. This study investigated the preconcentration and determination of ethion by a flow injection CL (FIA-CL) method using a molecularly imprinted poly high internal phase emulsion (MIP-polyHIPE) adsorbent. Preliminary studies showed that ethion could be determined with high sensitivity in the Ru (bipy)₃ ²⁺ -acidic Ce (IV) CL system. A MIP-polyHIPE adsorbent was synthesized and used for preconcentration to increase the selectivity and sensitivity of the method. The adsorption of ethion on the adsorbent was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD), UV-Vis and FTIR spectrophotometry and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) were used to find optimized concentrations of variables. The linear dynamic range (LDR) and limit of detection (LOD) for ethion in the FIA-CL method were calculated 1.0✕10^-9 -2.0✕10^-7 and 6.0✕10^-10 mol L^-1 , respectively. The percentage of relative standard deviation for 5 repetitive measurements of 5.0⨯10^-8 mol L^-1 ethion was 4.2%. The proposed method was successfully used to separate and preconcentrate ethion from drinking and surface water sources.

A molecularly imprinted polymerized high internal phase emulsion adsorbent for sensitive chemiluminescence determination of clopidogrel

A molecularly imprinted polymerized high internal phase emulsion (MIP-polyHIPE) adsorbent was used for selective separating and preconcentrating the anti-plaque drug, clopidogrel. For the first time in this study, chemiluminescence (CL) methods were evaluated for the determination of clopidogrel. The synthesis of adsorbents by the emulsion templating method showed that the sensitivity of the method can be increased up to 42 times. The determination of clopidogrel was evaluated by Ru(phen)₃²⁺-Cerium (IV), KMnO₄-H₂SO₄, KMnO₄-H₂SO₄-Na₂SO₃, and luminol-H₂O₂ CL systems. According to the results, only the Ru(phen)₃²⁺-Cerium (IV) CL system showed a reasonable sensitivity for clopidogrel. Using MIP-polyHIPE adsorbent, the linear range, the limit of detection, and relative standard deviation for clopidogrel in this system were respectively 1.0 × 10^-9-8.0 × 10^-8 mol L^-1, 3.0 × 10^-10 mol L^-1, and 6.3% (n = 4, 1.0 × 10^-8). The proposed method was employed for determining clopidogrel in pharmaceuticals and blood serum samples. The results showed the good sensitivity and accuracy of the proposed method.

Recent advances in developing optical and electrochemical sensors for analysis of methamphetamine: A review

Recognition of misused stimulant drugs has always been a hot topic from a medical and judicial perspective. Methamphetamine (MAMP) is an addictive and illegal drug that profoundly affects the central nervous system. Like other illicit drugs, the detection of MAMP in biological and street samples is vital for several organizations such as forensic medicine, anti-drug headquarters and diagnostic clinics. By emerging nanotechnology and exploiting nanomaterials in sensing applications, a great deal of attention has been given to the design of analytical sensors in MAMP tracing. For the first time, this study has briefly reviewed all the optical and electrochemical sensors in MAMP detection from earlier so far. How various receptors with engineering nanomaterials allow developing novel approaches to measure MAMP have been studied. Fundamental concepts related to optical and electrochemical recognition assays in which nanomaterials have been used and relevant MAMP sensing applications have been comprehensively covered. Challenges, opportunities and future outlooks of this field have also been discussed at the end.

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer-thermal lens spectrometry (FRET-TLS) as molecular counting of methamphetamine

A novel and sensitive approach has been presented for the determination of methamphetamine (METH) based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer-thermal lens spectrometry (FRET-TLS). Due to the affinity of fluorescein molecules to the surface of AuNPs through the electrostatic interaction and thereby caused reduction of the distance between fluorescein and AuNPs, the best way for de-excitation of excited fluorescein is FRET. The energy absorbed by fluorescein transferred to AuNPs causes enhancement of the thermal lens effect. The thermal lens of the fluorescence molecule could be enhanced through a proper acceptor. Upon the addition of methamphetamine, the fluorescein molecules are detached from the surface of AuNPs, due to the stronger adsorption of methamphetamine. As a result, the fluorescence of fluorescein recovered, and the thermal lens effect of fluorescein decreased. The mechanism of energy transfer was evaluated by two different methods including time-resolved spectroscopy and thermal lens spectrometry. Under the optimal conditions, the thermal lens signal was linearly proportional to methamphetamine concentration in the range 5 - 80 nM. The limit of detection and limit of quantitation were 1.5 nM and 4.5 nM, respectively. The detection volume and limit of molecules in the detection volume were 960 attoliter and 87 molecules, respectively. The method was successfully applied for the determination of methamphetamine in human blood plasma and urine.

A miniaturized giant magnetic resistance system for quantitative detection of methamphetamine

Point-of-care testing (POCT) systems have been greatly developed in recent years. Among them, lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) based on magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) is widely used in various fields due to the advantages of small background noise and good biocompatibility. This paper designed an ultra-sensitive giant magnetic resistance (GMR) system for the quantitative detection of methamphetamine (MET). The system uses GMRs to detect the distribution of the magnetic field intensity of MNPs captured by the test (T) and control (C) lines on LFIA. A special external interference cancellation (EIC) method and a weak-signal waveform reconstruction method were used to improve the accuracy of the detection. Finally, the T/C ratio was calculated to realize the quantitative detection of MET. The result showed good linear performance with a detection limit of 0.1 ng mL-1. The system can also be used in other fields such as disease detection, food analysis, and environmental testing.

Interpol review of controlled substances 2016-2019

This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in controlled substances from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20Papers%202019.pdf.

Molecularly imprinted polymer containing fluorescent graphene quantum dots as a new fluorescent nanosensor for detection of methamphetamine

A novel fluorescent nanosensor based on graphene quantum dots embedded within molecularly imprinted polymer (GQDs@MIP) was developed for detection and determination of methamphetamine (METH). The resulting GQDs@MIP nanocomposite exhibited higher methamphetamine selectivity in comparison with corresponding non-imprinted polymer (GQDs@NIP). Characterization of the GQDs@MIP nanocomposite was done by nitrogen adsorption and desorption analysis (BET method), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), photoluminescence (PL), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies. The fluorescence intensity of GQDs@MIP was efficiently quenched in the presence of methamphetamine template molecules while no quenching was observed in the presence of other analytes such as amphetamine, ibuprofen, codeine, and morphine. Using this method, the detection limit of 1.7 μg/L was obtained for methamphetamine determination.

Polyethylenimine-Capped CdS Quantum Dots for Sensitive and Selective Detection of Nitrite in Vegetables and Water

In the present work, polyethylenimine-capped CdS quantum dots (PEI-CdS QDs) with bright green fluorescence were synthesized and applied for sensitively and selectively detecting the nitrite in vegetable and water samples. Highly fluorescent and environment-friendly PEI-CdS QDs (quantum yield about 8%) with diameters of ca. 5 nm were easily synthesized by using hyperbranched PEI as functional polymer. Formation of the PEI-CdS QDs was verified by transmission electron microscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The fluorescence intensity of the as-synthesized PEI-CdS QDs was enhanced pronouncedly by the increasing amount of PEI and was stable when the pH ranged from 5.0 to 9.0. Our results demonstrated that the fluorescence of the PEI-CdS QDs was effectively quenched by the nitrite in a rather wide linear range of 1.0 × 10^-7-1.0 × 10^-4 M while efficiently avoiding the interferences from nitrate ions and other commonly coexisting anions of nitrite in the vegetable samples. The detection limit of the present method was lower than the maximum limit of nitrite in drinking water (6.5 × 10^-5 M) ruled by the World Health Organization, which is significant to the application of the method.

A fluorometric aptasensor for methamphetamine based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer using cobalt oxyhydroxide nanosheets and carbon dots

Cobalt oxyhydroxide (CoOOH) nanosheets are efficient fluorescence quenchers due to their specific optical properties and high surface area. The combination of CoOOH nanosheets and carbon dots (CDs) has not been used in any aptasensor based on fluorescence quenching so far. An aptamer based fluorometric assay is introduced that is making use of fluorescent CDs conjugated to the aptamer against methamphetamine (MTA), and of CoOOH nanosheets which reduce the fluorescence of the CDs as a quencher. The results revealed that the conjugated CDs with aptamers were able to enclose the CoOOH nanosheets. Consequently, fluorescence is quenched. If the aptamer on the CD binds MTA, the CDs are detached from CoOOH nanosheets. As a result, fluorescence is restored proportionally to zhe MTA concentration. The fluorometric limit of detection is 1 nM with a dynamic range from 5 to 156 nM. The method was validated by comparing the results obtained by the new method to those obtained by ion mobility spectroscopy. Theoretical studies showed that the distance between CoOOH nanosheet and C-Ds is approximately 7.6 Å which can illustrate the possibility of FRET phenomenon. The interactions of MTA and the aptamer were investigated using molecular dynamic simulation (MDS). Graphical abstract Carbon dots (C-Ds) were prepared from grape leaves, conjugated to aptamer, and adsorbed on CoOOH nanosheets. So, the fluorescence of C-Ds is quenched. On addition of MTA, fluorescence is restored.

A graphene quantum dot-assisted morin–KMnO4 chemiluminescence system for the precise recognition of cypermethrin

A novel and efficient chemiluminescence (CL) probe was developed for cypermethrin (CYPM) based on the sensitizing effect of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) on the morin–KMnO₄ CL reaction.

Molecularly imprinted polymers on CdS quantum dots for sensitive determination of cefixime after its preconcentration by magnetic graphene oxide

A sensitive and selective method was developed for the simple monitoring of cefixime based on its preconcentration by magnetic Fe₃O₄@SiO₂modified graphene oxide (Fe₃O₄@SiO₂-GO) and fluorimetric detection using molecularly imprinted polymer coated CdS quantum dots (MIP-CdS QDs).