A Sensitive Nanosensor for the In Situ Detection of the Cannibal Drug
Eva María Nieto Garrido, María Alfonso, Borja Díaz de Greñu, M. Dolores Marcos, Ana M. Costero, Salvador Gil, Félix Sancenón, Ramón Martínez‐Máñez
Abstract
A bio-inspired nanodevice for the selective and sensitive fluorogenic detection of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), usually known as Cannibal drug, is reported. The sensing nanodevice is based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), loaded with a fluorescent reporter (rhodamine B), and functionalized on their external surface with a dopamine derivative (3), which specifically interacts with the recombinant human dopamine transporter (DAT), capping the pores. In the presence of MDPV, DAT detaches from the MSNs consequently, causing rhodamine B release and allowing drug detection. The nanosensor shows a detection limit of 5.2 μM, and it is able to detect the MDPV drug both in saliva and blood plasma samples.