For the first time, researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas have developed a handheld electrochemical sensor that can accurately detect fentanyl in urine within seconds. The proof-of-concept technology can detect even trace amounts of fentanyl with 98% accuracy using a small, portable device, eliminating the need for expensive and time-consuming laboratory analysis. A study demonstrating the device was recently published in the American Chemical Society's Applied Materials & Interfaces journal.
The prototype can be used to detect fentanyl through urinalysis and is a pioneer in detecting the drug in saliva, said Dr. Shalini Prasad, professor and chair of the Department of Bioengineering in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. The technology can also be used to detect the presence of fentanyl in substances by mixing the sample with water and then dropping the liquid onto a sensor.
"There is an urgent need for an easy-to-use, portable, tiny device that can detect fentanyl with high specificity and instantly share the results to connected devices," said Prasad, the study's corresponding author and the Cecil H. and Ida Green Professor in the Department of Systems Biology Sciences. "Our study demonstrates the feasibility of a high-precision sensor that can detect fentanyl within seconds."
The growing fentanyl crisis
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Illegally manufactured fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, and as little as 2 milligrams (equivalent to 10 to 15 grains of table salt) can be fatal. More than 150 people die every day in the United States from an overdose of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl.
Studies have found that fentanyl can be detected in urine for up to 72 hours. Researchers at UT Dallas are working to advance technology for detecting fentanyl in hair. Their ultimate goal is to develop a test to detect fentanyl in saliva. Saliva testing can help first responders make treatment decisions for people who have overdosed, Prasad said.
Innovative sensor design and testing
The device contains an electrochemical sensor that generates an electrical signal based on a chemical reaction. However, developing sensors to detect fentanyl is a challenge because the synthetic opioid is a non-volatile compound, meaning it does not produce an electrochemical signal.
To capture fentanyl with an electrochemical sensor, the researchers used a molecular mesh that resembles a mousetrap. The mousetrap is made of a variety of materials, including gold nanoparticles, so the researchers had to get creative with the cheese on the device.
Collaboration and future applications
The paper's first author, bioengineering researcher Dr. Anirban Paul, used reverse engineering to find a solution. Paul came from India to work with Prasad and decided to try naloxone, a life-saving drug that can reverse an opioid overdose. The researchers conducted computational tests to understand how the compounds interact to determine how naloxone could be used to attract fentanyl like a magnet.
"Naloxone is used to reduce the potency of fentanyl," Paul said. "The idea is to use naloxone to trap fentanyl like cheese traps mice."
The researchers tested urine spiked with low, medium and high concentrations of fentanyl in the laboratory. Urine drops on the test paper. If there is fentanyl in the urine, naloxone will interact with it and create a signal. The device detected fentanyl levels as high as 100 parts per million in spiked urine samples.
Study author Dr. Ivneet Banga, a research project manager in bioengineering, helps plan experiments and synthesize materials. Last year, as a doctoral student, Banga won a Level 2 Baxter Young Investigator Award for a handheld breath analyzer that can detect respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, in seconds. She hopes fentanyl sensors can help prevent overdose deaths.
Prasad and her team have developed a variety of electrochemical sensors, including technology that detects biomarkers of infections such as COVID-19 in sweat, as well as biomarkers of the onset of inflammatory bowel disease. Last year, they developed a test that can measure THC, the main active ingredient in marijuana, in saliva with 94 percent accuracy.
Compiled source: ScitechDaily