Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy
We developed a method based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and a sample pretreatment process for rapid, sensitive, reproducible, multiplexed, and low-cost detection of illegal drugs in urine. The abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has become an increasingly serious problem in...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/7/1789 |
| _version_ | 1797526455941332992 |
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| author | Yun-Chu Chen Shang-Wen Hong Huang-Hesin Wu Yuh-Lin Wang Yih-Fan Chen |
| author_facet | Yun-Chu Chen Shang-Wen Hong Huang-Hesin Wu Yuh-Lin Wang Yih-Fan Chen |
| author_sort | Yun-Chu Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We developed a method based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and a sample pretreatment process for rapid, sensitive, reproducible, multiplexed, and low-cost detection of illegal drugs in urine. The abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has become an increasingly serious problem in many countries. However, immunoassay-based screening kits for NPS are usually not available because of the lack of corresponding antibodies. SERS has a great potential for rapid detection of NPS because it can simultaneously detect multiple kinds of drugs without the use of antibodies. To achieve highly sensitive SERS detection of drugs, sodium bromide was first employed to induce the rapid formation of Ag nanoclusters by aggregating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the extracted sample solution. SERS measurements were performed immediately after the sample pretreatment without incubation. The three-dimensional SERS hot spots were believed to form significantly within the nanoclusters, providing strong SERS enhancement effects. The displacement of citrate molecules on the surfaces of the AgNPs by bromide ions helped increase the adsorption of drug molecules, increasing their areal density. We demonstrated the simultaneous detection of two kinds of NPS, methcathinone and 4-methylmethcathinone, in urine at a concentration as low as 0.01 ppm. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:29:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-69f1db297b27472eaf9c2124c6642693 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:29:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-69f1db297b27472eaf9c2124c66426932023-11-22T04:33:55ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912021-07-01117178910.3390/nano11071789Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman SpectroscopyYun-Chu Chen0Shang-Wen Hong1Huang-Hesin Wu2Yuh-Lin Wang3Yih-Fan Chen4Institute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, TaiwanInstitute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, TaiwanInstitute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, TaiwanInstitute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 106, TaiwanInstitute of Biophotonics, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, TaiwanWe developed a method based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and a sample pretreatment process for rapid, sensitive, reproducible, multiplexed, and low-cost detection of illegal drugs in urine. The abuse of new psychoactive substances (NPS) has become an increasingly serious problem in many countries. However, immunoassay-based screening kits for NPS are usually not available because of the lack of corresponding antibodies. SERS has a great potential for rapid detection of NPS because it can simultaneously detect multiple kinds of drugs without the use of antibodies. To achieve highly sensitive SERS detection of drugs, sodium bromide was first employed to induce the rapid formation of Ag nanoclusters by aggregating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the extracted sample solution. SERS measurements were performed immediately after the sample pretreatment without incubation. The three-dimensional SERS hot spots were believed to form significantly within the nanoclusters, providing strong SERS enhancement effects. The displacement of citrate molecules on the surfaces of the AgNPs by bromide ions helped increase the adsorption of drug molecules, increasing their areal density. We demonstrated the simultaneous detection of two kinds of NPS, methcathinone and 4-methylmethcathinone, in urine at a concentration as low as 0.01 ppm.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/7/1789surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)drugnew psychoactive substanceurinenanocluster |
| spellingShingle | Yun-Chu Chen Shang-Wen Hong Huang-Hesin Wu Yuh-Lin Wang Yih-Fan Chen Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Nanomaterials surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) drug new psychoactive substance urine nanocluster |
| title | Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy |
| title_full | Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy |
| title_fullStr | Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy |
| title_short | Rapid Formation of Nanoclusters for Detection of Drugs in Urine Using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy |
| title_sort | rapid formation of nanoclusters for detection of drugs in urine using surface enhanced raman spectroscopy |
| topic | surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) drug new psychoactive substance urine nanocluster |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/11/7/1789 |
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