Towards the development of a portable device based on modified-voltammetric sensors for the detection of illicit drugs and seized samples.

Illicit drugs are a global burden, not only for society, but also for the various control authorities for which its rapid on-site detection remains a challenge. In this context, the potential of a voltammetric electronic tongue (ET) for the analysis of different drugs is evaluated herein. Concretely, the discrimination and identification of cocaine, heroin, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methamphetamine and ketamine in self-prepared and real samples were attempted.

Design of smart nanoparticles for the electrochemical detection of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine to allow in field screening by law enforcement officers.

A portable and highly sensitive sensor was designed for the specific detection of 3,4-methyl-enedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA), in a range of field-testing situations. The sensor can detect MDMA in street samples, even when other controlled substances drugs, or adulterants are present. In this work, we report for the first time a sensor using electroactive molecularly imprinted polymer nanoparticles computationally designed to recognize MDMA and then produced using solid phase synthesis.

Electrochemical Fingerprints of Illicit Drugs on Graphene and Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

Illicit drugs use and abuse remains an increasing challenge for worldwide authorities and, therefore, it is important to have accurate methods to detect them in seized samples, biological fluids and wastewaters. They are recently classified as the latest group of emerging pollutants as their consumption increased tremendously in recent years. Nanomaterials have gained much attention over the last decade in the development of sensors for a myriad of applications.