Illicit drugs and metabolites quick screening by innovative biomimetic sensors

– Drug-Scan-

PROJECT SUMMARY

Worldwide, illicit drug and metabolites use and abuse has wide-ranging impacts on security, environmental and public health, becoming a major problem in the modern society. Hence, a novel perspective is important for the effective monitoring of illegal drugs using highly sensitive detection sensors. Cocaine is a natural alkaloid cultivated widely in the Amazonian region being the Europe’s second most commonly used illicit stimulant drug with an estimated retail market value of 10 billion euros. In this respect, the project Drug-Scan unravel its original contribution by developing new generation of cost-effective biomimetic sensors for the quantitative and fast screening of 5 different illicit drugs and metabolites (cocaine and major metabolites benzoylecgonine and ecgoninemethylester, codeine, methamphetamine) in biological samples (saliva or urine). The project relies on a recognition phase based on the preparation and incorporation of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles selective for cocaine into sol-gel matrices to obtain sensitive films. Further, the cocaine films will be deposited onto gold nanoparticulated graphene-screen printed electrodes. The functionality and versatility (selectivity studies of drugs and metabolites) of the optimized sensors will be proved. The specific output of the project will lead to: 3 ISI papers, 6 communications, website (during project implementation) and new research themes, performance data, transferable knowledge (after project end).

OBJECTIVES

The goal of Drug-Scan project is developing a new generation of cost-effective biomimetic sensors for the quantitative and fast screening of 5 different illicit drugs and metabolites (cocaine and major metabolites benzoylecgonine and ecgoninemethylester, codeine, methamphetamine) in biological samples (saliva or urine). An original part of the project refers to the preparation and incorporation of molecularly imprinted nanoparticles selective for cocaine into sol-gel matrices to obtain sensitive films, further deposited onto gold nanoparticulated graphene-screen printed electrodes.

The overall goal and objectives of the project Drug-Scan are in line with the strategic objectives of Young Research Teams Competition, namely by (i) obtaining top scientific and technological results, competitive at global level, and (ii) increasing international visibility of Romanian research that will result in innovative and original technologies, having internationally competitive and socio-economic impact, concerning health and life quality ensurance of the population.

ESTIMATED RESULTS

(1) Report on preliminary cocaine molecularly imprinted particles (nanoMIPs) synthesis and characterization; (2) Experimental Models for sensitive cocaine nanoMIPs/sol-gel films; (3) Functional Models of drug-MIP-SPCEs sensors; (4) Validation Report on limit of detection of drug sensors; (5) Report on sensors reproducibility via morpho-structural and electrochemical cocaine and metabolites sensing characteristics; (6) Laboratory Technology for the preparation of drug-MIP-SPCEs sensors; (7) website of Drug-Scan project (during project implementation); (8) 6 scientific communications to national/international symposia/conferences; (9) 1 National Patent application; (10) 1 workshop; (11) 3 ISI Papers (Q1/Q2); (12) new research topics, performance data, transferable knowledge (after project implementation.

Project staff ICECHIM