Nanosensor for Sensitive Detection of the New Psychedelic Drug 25I-NBOMe.
Eva Garrido, María Alfonso, Borja Díaz de Greñu, Beatriz Lozano-Torres, Margarita Parra, Pablo Gaviña, M Dolores Marcos, Ramón Martínez-máñez, Félix Sancenón
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) March 2, 2020 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201905688 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA hybrid nanodevice based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with a fluorescent dye and capped with a 5-HT2A receptor antibody can detect the potent hallucinogenic drug 25I-NBOMe. When the drug is present, it displaces the antibody, opening pores and releasing rhodamine B, producing a fluorescent signal. The device achieves a detection limit of 0.6 μm and is selective for 25I-NBOMe over cocaine, heroin, mescaline, LSD, MDMA, and morphine. It works in artificial saliva and in sweets, acting as a sensitive and selective fluorometric probe for the illicit drug.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | 25i-nbome Hallucinogenic drugs Mesoporous silica nanoparticles Sensors |
| Citations | 19 |
| Key finding | The nanodevice selectively detects 25I-NBOMe at a limit of 0.6 μm via antibody displacement and dye release, with no response to other tested drugs. |
Abstract
This work reports the synthesis, characterization, and sensing behavior of a hybrid nanodevice for the detection of the potent abuse drug 25I-NBOMe. The system is based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles, loaded with a fluorescent dye, functionalized with a serotonin derivative and capped with the 5-HT2A receptor antibody. In the presence of 25I-NBOMe the capping antibody is displaced, leading to pore opening and rhodamine B release. This delivery was ascribed to 5-HT2A receptor antibody detachment from the surface due to its stronger coordination with 25I-NBOMe present in the solution. The prepared nanodevice allowed the sensitive (limit of detection of 0.6 μm) and selective recognition of the 25I-NBOMe drug (cocaine, heroin, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, MDMA, and morphine were unable to induce pore opening and rhodamine B release). This nanodevice acts as a highly sensitive and selective fluorometric probe for the 25I-NBOMe illicit drug in artificial saliva and in sweets.