Nanosensor for Sensitive Detection of the New Psychedelic Drug 25I-NBOMe

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: E. Garrido, M. Alfonso, B. Díaz de Greñu, B. Lozano-Torres, M. Parra, P. Gaviña, M. D. Marcos, R. Martínez-Máñez, F. Sancenón, Chem. Eur. J. 2020, 26, 2813, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201905688. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. [EN] This work reports the synthesis, characterization, and sensing behavior of a hybrid nanodevice for the detection of the potent abuse drug 25I-NBOMe. The system is based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles, loaded with a fluorescent dye, functionalized with a serotonin derivative and capped with the 5-HT2A receptor antibody. In the presence of 25I-NBOMe the capping antibody is displaced, leading to pore opening and rhodamine B release. This delivery was ascribed to 5-HT2A receptor antibody detachment from the surface due to its stronger coordination with 25I-NBOMe present in the solution. The prepared nanodevice allowed the sensitive (limit of detection of 0.6 mm) and selective recognition of the 25I-NBOMe drug (cocaine, heroin, mescaline, lysergic acid diethylamide, MDMA, and morphine were unable to induce pore opening and rhodamine B release). This nanodevice acts as a highly sensitive and selective fluorometric probe for the 25I-NBOMe illicit drug in artificial saliva and in sweets. The authors thank the Spanish Government (projects RTI2018-100910-B-C41 (MCUI/AEI/FEDER, UE) and CTQ2017-87954-P) and the Generalitat Valencia (PROMETEO/2018/024) for support. E.G. is grateful to the Spanish MEC for her FPU grant. The authors also thank the Electron Microscopy Service at the UPV for support. Garrido-García, EM.; Alfonso-Navarro, M.; Díaz De Greñu-Puertas, B.; Lozano-Torres, B.; Parra Álvarez, M.; Gaviña, P.; Marcos Martínez, MD... (2020). Nanosensor for Sensitive Detection of the New Psychedelic Drug 25I-NBOMe. Chemistry - A European Journal. 26(13):2813-2816. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201905688 World drug report. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Inform2018; European drug report: Trends and Developments. European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addition (EMCDDA). Inform2018. Zuba, D., Sekuła, K., & Buczek, A. (2013). 25C-NBOMe – New potent hallucinogenic substance identified on the drug market. Forensic Science International, 227(1-3), 7-14. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.08.027 Poklis, J. L., Raso, S. A., Alford, K. N., P