Chromogenic and Fluorogenic Probes for the Detection of Illicit Drugs

Abstract

The consumption of illicit drugs has increased exponentially in recent years and has become a problem that worries both governments and international institutions. The rapid emergence of new compounds, their easy access, the low levels at which these substances are able to produce an effect, and their short time of permanence in the organism make it necessary to develop highly rapid, easy, sensitive, and selective methods for their detection. Currently, the most widely used methods for drug detection are based on techniques that require large measurement times, the use of sophisticated equipment, and qualified personnel. Chromo‐ and fluorogenic methods are an alternative to those classical procedures.

A Colorimetric Membrane-Based Sensor with Improved Selectivity towards Amphetamine

“…As can be derived from Figure 5, the main advantage of the proposed reaction is that AMP can be easily differentiated from MET. In addition, unlike most of the colorimetric (bio)assays developed for drugs, which may involve sophisticated and time-consuming synthesis of the recognition probes [6,7,20], the reagent is commercially available. The reaction is very rapid and does not involve the employment of strong acidic media, so it is well-suited for on-site tests.…”

“…As a result, there is an increasing demand for analytical methodologies applicable to a variety of contexts such as the investigation of consumption habits, the monitoring of rehabilitation treatments or the characterization of seizures, among others [1,2]. The analytical strategy to be applied depends on the intended purpose of the analysis, and a variety of approaches are in current use, from those involving highly sophisticated chromatographic equipment coupled to spectrometers and/or chemometric data treatment [3][4][5] to simple chemical spot tests [6,7]. The former approaches are typically used to analyze complex matrices such as biological specimens or for confirmatory purposes, whereas because of their simplicity, speed and low cost, chemical spot tests are preferably used for the presumptive analysis of suspected samples.…”

“…In order to overcome the lack of selectivity of colorimetric assays, different approaches were proposed. The development of new recognition probes such as aptamers has attracted a lot of attention [6,7]. Extensive research was also carried out to develop new (nano)materials and sensor devices with enhanced detection capabilities [20].…”

“…So far, the multiplex detection approach remains relatively unexplored, and research is necessary to adapt classical chemical spot tests to solid formats. The availability of reactions with improved discrimination power will play a key role in the successful implementation of this kind of device [6,7,12].…”

A Sensitive Nanosensor for the In Situ Detection of the Cannibal Drug

“…MDPV is commonly detected by different techniques, such as HPLC–MS, − GC–MS, − high-performance ion mobility spectrometry (HPIMS), and bioanalytical procedures. − Nevertheless, these methods are slow; the samples must be moved to qualified laboratories, and they usually require the supervision of trained personnel. An alternative promising approach to these techniques involves the development of chromo-fluorogenic sensors for the rapid, selective, and in situ detection of MDPV . However, as far as we know, no chromo-fluorogenic probes have been reported for the detection of MDPV so far.…”