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Nanotechnology has emerged as a pivotal tool in biomedical research, particularly in developing advanced sensing platforms for disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. Since gold nanoparticles are biocompatible and have special optical characteristics, they are excellent choices for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing devices. Integrating fluorescence characteristics further enhances their utility in real‐time imaging and tracking within biological systems. The synergistic combination of SERS and fluorescence enables sensitive and selective detection of biomolecules at trace levels, providing a versatile platform for early cancer diagnosis and drug monitoring. In cancer detection, AuNPs facilitate the specific targeting of cancer biomarkers, allowing for early‐stage diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies. The enhanced sensitivity of SERS, coupled with the tunable fluorescence properties of AuNPs, offers a powerful tool for the identification of cancer cells and their microenvironment. This dual‐mode detection not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also enables the monitoring of treatment response and disease progression. In drug detection, integrating AuNPs with SERS provides a robust platform for identifying and quantifying pharmaceutical compounds. The unique spectral fingerprints obtained through SERS enable the discrimination of drug molecules even in complex biological matrices. Furthermore, the fluorescence property of AuNPs makes it easier to track medication distribution in real‐time, maximizing therapeutic effectiveness and reducing adverse effects. Furthermore, the review explores the role of gold fluorescence nanoparticles in photodynamic therapy (PDT). By using the complementary effects of targeted drug release and light‐induced cytotoxicity, SERS‐guided drug delivery and photodynamic therapy (PDT) can increase the effectiveness of treatment against cancer cells. In conclusion, the utilization of gold fluorescence nanoparticles in conjunction with SERS holds tremendous potential for revolutionizing cancer detection, drug analysis, and photodynamic therapy. The dual‐mode capabilities of these nanomaterials provide a multifaceted approach to address the challenges in early diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and personalized medicine, thereby advancing the landscape of biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social networks for medicine allow users to share reviews on the drugs they have used. The medical and pharmaceutical industries can be guided by the arrangement of patient reviews of medications into ratings, whether good or unfavourable and the identification of the medications that cause an (Adverse Drug Reaction) ADR to better understand the patient's discomfort or satisfaction with particular medications. Unexpected pharmacological reactions from patient to patient can be caused by side effects. Pharmaceutical firms that produce the pharmaceuticals that are recommended for the prevention and treatment of sickness, however, occasionally cause negative lateral effects and lateral-effects that result in the demise of people who take the drugs. Pharmaceutical companies disclose the majority of side effects constructed on experimental tribunals, just one, which a small number are recognized. For better pharmacological side-effect prediction, feature sets are examined. When comparing Side-effects, machine learning (ML) techniques are utilized to determine which classifier has the highest level of accuracy. The goal of this study is to forecast how adenosine receptor-interacting medicines and therapeutic candidates would behave. In order to shape a machine learning prototypical, we used four distinct categorization methods: Naive Bayes(NB), Random Forest (RF), Decision Tree (DT), and Support Vector Machine (SVM). We then associated the findings and selected the one that produced the best results. In contrast to prior studies, we trained our model to distinguish between medications that interact with adenosine receptors and those that do not by using the drug side effect integrated into the drug fingerprint as a feature. In order to determine which medicine is most desired (and has the fewest side effects) among numerous, we rated the pharmaceuticals that interact with adenosine receptors depending on adverse effects. This aids in drug development. Drug side effects are typically not included in existing datasets, which focus instead on medicines, targets, and their interactions. For better pharmacological side-effect prediction, feature sets are examined. A comparative examination of Side-effects is conducted using machine learning (ML) techniques in order to determine which classifier has the highest level of accuracy. Using machine learning procedures and natural language processing techniques, this research proposes a model to forecast drug side effects based on review analyses.

This study explores biosensor technology, focusing on its application in drug detection through advanced quantitative analysis methods: partial least squares (PLS) and probabilistic principal component analysis (PPCA). We developed a rapid quantitative calibration model using azure A, B, and C—metabolites of pefloxacin mesylate and methylene blue— demonstrated through surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The findings highlight the superior accuracy of PLS and PPCA in predicting drug concentrations, with pefloxacin mesylate detection deviations maintained between 0.24%-0.98% and 0.35%-1.02%, respectively. PLS proved to be slightly more effective. This study confirms the potential of biosensor technology in ensuring drug safety, offering substantial support for public health protection and regulatory compliance.

This research paper presents an inventive technique to swiftly create microfluidic channels on distinct membrane papers, enabling colorimetric drug detection. Using a modified DIY RepRap 3D printer with a syringe pump, microfluidic channels (µPADs) are crafted on a flexible nylon-based substrate. This allows simultaneous detection of four common drugs with a single reagent. An optimized blend of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) dissolved in hexane is used to create hydrophobic channels on various filter papers. The PDMS-hexane mixture infiltrates the paper's pores, forming hydrophobic barriers that confine liquids within the channels. These barriers are cured on the printer's hot plate, controlling channel width and preventing spreading. Capillary action drives fluid along these paths without spreading. This novel approach provides a versatile solution for rapid microfluidic channel creation on membrane papers. The DIY RepRap 3D printer integration offers precise control and faster curing. The PDMS-hexane solution accurately forms hydrophobic barriers, containing liquids within desired channels. The resulting microfluidic system holds potential for portable, cost-effective drug detection and various sensing applications.

Carbamazepine is a crucial medication used to treat nervous system disorders, and its low level of absorption in the human body suggests that a significant amount of it may be present in sewage water. Consequently, this pioneering research deals with the synthesis and application of a luminescent sensor based on rhodamine 6 G-modified bifunctional silica particles for the determination of carbamazepine. The sensing material was fabricated in one step by the sol–gel technique and the dye was adsorbed onto the surface from an alcohol solution. The composition, morphology and size of functionalized silica particles were determined by physico-chemical methods. The material's features provide the possibility of its application as a sensing material for carbamazepine determination at a variety of concentrations. The sensor possesses a linear response towards carbamazepine in the concentration range of 0.8–200.0 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 17.9 μM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 59.7 μM and has demonstrated reliable quantification over a wide range of concentrations, from therapeutic to high fatal concentrations. Additionally, the sensing mechanism has been proposed, which involves the formation of hydrogen bonding between carbamazepine and Rhodamine 6G immobilized bifunctional silica particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the power, speed, and simplicity of point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. POC diagnostics are available for a wide range of targets, including both drugs of abuse as well as performance-enhancing drugs. For pharmacological monitoring, minimally invasive fluids such as urine and saliva are commonly sampled. However, false positives or negatives caused by interfering agents excreted in these matrices may confound results. For example, false positives have, in most cases, prevented the use of POC diagnostics for pharmacological agent detection; the consequence is that centralized labs are instead tasked to perform these screenings, resulting in significant delays between sampling and testing. Thus, a rapid, simple, and inexpensive methodology for sample purification is required for the POC to reach a field-deployable tool for the pharmacological human health and performance assessments. Buffer exchange is a simple, rapid approach to remove interfering agents, but has traditionally been difficult to perform on small pharmacological molecules. Therefore, in this communication, we use salbutamol, a performance-enhancing drug, as a case example to demonstrate the efficacy of ion-exchange chromatography as a technique to perform buffer exchange for charged pharmacological agents. This manuscript demonstrates the efficacy of this technique leveraging a commercial spin column to remove interfering agents found in simulant urines, such as proteins, creatinine, and urea, while retaining salbutamol. The utility and efficacy of the method was then confirmed in actual saliva samples. The eluent was then collected and run on the lateral flow assays (LFAs), improving the reported limit of detection by over 5× (new lower limit of detection of 10 ppb compared to reported 60 ppb by the manufacturer) while simultaneously removing noise due to background interfering agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With new synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) appearing on the European drug market every year, early warning systems are key to detect, monitor, and respond to threats posed by them. The European Union Early Warning System (EU EWS) implemented by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction has monitored these substances since their first European detection in 2008. Since then, national and international responses have been implemented, aimed at tackling risks posed by SCs. Throughout this time, new SCs have emerged on the European market containing diverse structural moieties, appearing to be designed in a way that circumvents existing legal controls, contributing to a complex public health scenario. This study provides an inventory of the SCs detected in the EU from 2008 to 2022, describing their structural evolution by analysing separately four structural features: their core, tail, linker, and linked groups. The range of structural changes is analysed considering key milestones, including the year of first report by the European Union Early Warning System to the key legislative changes that have occurred since. The analysis shows that from June 2021 to July 2022, 20 out of 23 newly emerged SCs evade the generic SC legislation introduced in China in May 2021. This supports the hypothesis that the protection of public health benefits from timely information exchange and careful assessment of the risks associated with these substances. Additionally, the introduction of legal responses, albeit an important instrument to reduce the availability of dangerous substances on the market, may also be accompanied by unintended consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intending to propose inter-institutional actions to involve canine teams in security and defense in Colombia, this article conducted a literature review between 2010 and 2020 to identify the multidimensional security model and the use of canine teams. As a result, their use in various tasks is evidenced, but their strategic inclusion in environmental protection, forensic sciences, and criminal investigation, among other areas, is still lacking. To this end, guidelines are proposed to advance in this area based on the Defense and Security Policy. It is necessary to strengthen the selection, training, certification, and performance processes to redesign protocols, standards, and functions for the use of canine teams in coordinated operations among various forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sensitive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates designed for drug sensing are in great interest due to the growing demand in environmental monitoring, disease therapies and chemical analysis. Here, spherical silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs; ~8 nm) are synthesized via a simple electrochemical route and examined as SERS substrates for Tobramycin (TOBi) detection. The morphology and structure characterizations confirm the successful fabrication of Ag-NP. TOBi in diluted solution has a detection limit of 10−6 M, and the linear relationship between SERS intensity and TOBi amount is between 10−6 and 10−5 M. A strong SER signal with an enhancement factor of ~7.5 × 104 is observed. TOBi drug is for the first time investigated through Ag-based SERS detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel potentiometric microelectrode incorporating a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was fabricated, characterized, and successfully applied to the recognition and quantification of the drug, metronidazole benzoate. The elaborated MIP-based sensor was realized by thermal polarization, using metronidazole benzoate as the template material, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidine (VP) as a functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linking agent in the presence of benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The MIP-based sensor exhibited a super-Nernstian response (61.5 ± 0.5, mV/decade) covering the linear concentration range of 1 × 10−8–1 × 10−3 mole L−1 of metronidazole benzoate with a fast response time (≤10, s.) and detection limit of 7 × 10−9 mole L−1. The microchip showed high selectivity toward the template drug molecule in the presence of many investigated interfering species. The chip electrode was successfully used in the quantification of metronidazole benzoate in some real biological samples with high accuracy (recovery, 95.4%) and precision (RSD, 1.5). Moreover, the merits offered by the elaborated MIP-based MB microchip assembly include small size, miniaturization, integration, and consequently, automation feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of synthetic drugs is considered a huge milestone in the healthcare sector, transforming the overall health, aging, and lifestyle of the general population. Due to the surge in production and consumption, pharmaceutical drugs have emerged as potential environmental pollutants that are toxic with low biodegradability. Traditional chromatographic techniques in practice are time-consuming and expensive, despite good precision. Alternatively, electroanalytical techniques are recently identified to be selective, rapid, sensitive, and easier for drug detection. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are known for their intrinsic porous nature, high surface area, and diversity in structural design that provides credible drug-sensing capacities. Long-term reusability and maintaining chemo-structural integrity are major challenges that are countered by ligand–metal combinations, optimization of synthetic conditions, functionalization, and direct MOFs growth over the electrode surface. Moreover, chemical instability and lower conductivities limited the mass commercialization of MOF-based materials in the fields of biosensing, imaging, drug release, therapeutics, and clinical diagnostics. This review is dedicated to analyzing the various combinations of MOFs used for electrochemical detection of pharmaceutical drugs, comprising antibiotics, analgesics, anticancer, antituberculosis, and veterinary drugs. Furthermore, the relationship between the composition, morphology and structural properties of MOFs with their detection capabilities for each drug species is elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread consumption of cocaine poses a significant threat to modern society. The most effective way to combat this problem is to control the distribution of cocaine, based on its accurate and sensitive detection. Here, we proposed the detection of cocaine in human blood plasma using a combination of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and machine learning (SERS-ML). To demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed approach, cocaine was added into blood plasma at various concentrations and drop-deposited onto a specially prepared disposable SERS substrate. SERS substrates were created by deposition of metal nanoclusters on electrospun polymer nanofibers. Subsequently, SERS spectra were measured and as could be expected, the manual distinguishing of cocaine from the spectra proved unfeasible, as its signal was masked by the background signal from blood plasma molecules. To overcome this issue, a database of SERS spectra of cocaine in blood plasma was collected and used for ML training and validation. After training, the reliability of proposed approach was tested on independently prepared samples, with unknown for SERS-ML cocaine presence or absence. As a result, the possibility of rapid determination of cocaine in blood plasma with a probability above 99.5% for cocaine concentrations up to 10-14 M was confirmed. Therefore, it is evident that the proposed approach has the ability to detect trace amounts of cocaine in bioliquids in an express and simple manner. [Display omitted] • A simple, sensitive and fast approach for detecting trace amounts of cocaine in human blood plasma is proposed. • The detection approach is based on the SERS-ML combination. • The presence of cocaine is demonstrated at up to 10-14 M concentration with reliability greater than 99%. • The proposed approach significantly outperforms the existing one in terms of sensitivity, reliability, and can be applied in outdoor conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last two decades have witnessed a dramatic growth of wearable sensor technology, mainly represented by flexible, stretchable, on‐skin electronic sensors that provide rich information of the wearer's health conditions and surroundings. A recent breakthrough in the field is the development of wearable chemical sensors based on surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) that can detect molecular fingerprints universally, sensitively, and noninvasively. However, while their sensing properties are excellent, these sensors are not scalable for widespread use beyond small‐scale human health monitoring due to their cumbersome fabrication process and limited multifunctional sensing capabilities. Here, a highly scalable, wearable SERS sensor is demonstrated based on an easy‐to‐fabricate, low‐cost, ultrathin, flexible, stretchable, adhesive, and biointegratable gold nanomesh. It can be fabricated in any shape and worn on virtually any surface for label‐free, large‐scale, in situ sensing of diverse analytes from low to high concentrations (10–106 × 10−9m). To show the practical utility of the wearable SERS sensor, the sensor is tested for the detection of sweat biomarkers, drugs of abuse, and microplastics. This wearable SERS sensor represents a significant step toward the generalizability and practicality of wearable sensing technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a rapidly emerging technology that offers a fast, extremely sensitive, and quantitative approach to trace chemical detection. Such a technique incorporated into a portable device is attractive to law enforcement and emergency room personnel for rapid accurate on‐site screening of illicit and abused drugs. Toward this, we are developing an analyzer in a hand‐held unit, based on SERS that is integrated with a capillary sensor embedded with activated gold nanoparticles in a porous glass matrix. In this preliminary study, we have used this gold sol–gel capillary to measure aqueous solutions of 14 high‐priority drugs to define sensitivity (lowest measured concentration [LMC] and estimated limit of detection [LOD]), determine concentration dependence and quantification capabilities by constructing calibration curves, examine effects of pH at 3, 7, and 11 on SERS measurements, and perform multicomponent analysis of fentanyl laced drug mixtures and spectral identification on our portable and handheld units. Of particular significance, fentanyl was detected with an LMC of 1 ng/ml and estimated LOD at 0.11 ng/ml, while other representative drugs such as cocaine and phenylcyclidine produced LMCs and LODs at 5.0 and 0.77 ng/ml, and 10.0 and 0.62 ng/ml, respectively. These sub‐nanogram per milliliter detection limits are comparable or lower than previously reported and confirm that this gold sol–gel has the potential to meet the sensitivity requirements for saliva analysis. Most importantly, these sensors can be manufactured easily and cheaply and when integrated with our portable Raman units produce high‐quality spectra and accurate identification within 1.2 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Oral fluid is a widely studied matrix able to isolate the primary Cannabis constituent THC, facilitating its detection via mass spectrometry, and in most cases link these findings to recent drug use. As an alternative to liquid oral fluid, dried oral fluid spots (DOFS) is a simple and a low-cost sampling technique. It has shown improved stability compared to liquid samples, allowing for the possibility to preserve the specimens under various temperature and humidity conditions. The sampling strategy is straightforward and involves the application of a small quantity of oral fluid aliquot to a paper substrate that is set to air dry allowing for on-site collection at a large-scale demand. The goal of this study is to study THC and CBD extraction from DOFS, applying a previous established protocol for a LC–MS/MS qualitative method validation. Although other drugs of abuse have been included in DOFS methods, this is the first method validation including cannabinoids. An alternative oral fluid extraction method (WAX-S tips) is demonstrated to improve the recovery of the analytes. Methods A pool of blank oral fluid was used to prepare THC and CBD spiked DOFS samples for method validation and application. Spiked oral fluid was used to demonstrate WAX-S tips THC and CBD extraction. All samples were analyzed on a LC–MS/MS instrument. Results The qualitative method validation for THC and CBD confirmation in DOFS included method selectivity, matrix effects (

The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the power, speed, and simplicity of point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. POC diagnostics are available for a wide range of targets, including both drugs of abuse as well as performance-enhancing drugs. For pharmacological monitoring, minimally invasive fluids such as urine and saliva are commonly sampled. However, false positives or negatives caused by interfering agents excreted in these matrices may confound results. For example, false positives have, in most cases, prevented the use of POC diagnostics for pharmacological agent detection; the consequence is that centralized labs are instead tasked to perform these screenings, resulting in significant delays between sampling and testing. Thus, a rapid, simple, and inexpensive methodology for sample purification is required for the POC to reach a field-deployable tool for the pharmacological human health and performance assessments. Buffer exchange is a simple, rapid approach to remove interfering agents, but has traditionally been difficult to perform on small pharmacological molecules. Therefore, in this communication, we use salbutamol, a performance-enhancing drug, as a case example to demonstrate the efficacy of ion-exchange chromatography as a technique to perform buffer exchange for charged pharmacological agents. This manuscript demonstrates the efficacy of this technique leveraging a commercial spin column to remove interfering agents found in simulant urines, such as proteins, creatinine, and urea, while retaining salbutamol. The utility and efficacy of the method was then confirmed in actual saliva samples. The eluent was then collected and run on the lateral flow assays (LFAs), improving the reported limit of detection by over 5× (new lower limit of detection of 10 ppb compared to reported 60 ppb by the manufacturer) while simultaneously removing noise due to background interfering agents.

Carbamazepine is a crucial medication used to treat nervous system disorders, and its low level of absorption in the human body suggests that a significant amount of it may be present in sewage water. Consequently, this pioneering research deals with the synthesis and application of a luminescent sensor based on rhodamine 6 G-modified bifunctional silica particles for the determination of carbamazepine. The sensing material was fabricated in one step by the sol–gel technique and the dye was adsorbed onto the surface from an alcohol solution. The composition, morphology and size of functionalized silica particles were determined by physico-chemical methods. The material’s features provide the possibility of its application as a sensing material for carbamazepine determination at a variety of concentrations. The sensor possesses a linear response towards carbamazepine in the concentration range of 0.8–200.0 μM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 17.9 μM and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 59.7 μM and has demonstrated reliable quantification over a wide range of concentrations, from therapeutic to high fatal concentrations. Additionally, the sensing mechanism has been proposed, which involves the formation of hydrogen bonding between carbamazepine and Rhodamine 6G immobilized bifunctional silica particles.

The rapid increase in illicit drug use and its adverse health effects and socio-economic consequences have reached alarming proportions in recent years. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a highly sensitive analytical tool for the detection of low dosages of drugs in liquid and solid samples. In the present article, we review the state-of-the-art use of SERS for chemical analysis of illicit drugs in aqueous and complex biological samples, including saliva, urine, and blood. We also include a review of the types of SERS substrates used for this purpose, pointing out recent advancements in substrate fabrication towards quantitative and qualitative detection of illicit drugs. Finally, we conclude by providing our perspective on the field of SERS-based drug detection, including presently faced challenges. Overall, our review provides evidence of the strong potential of SERS to establish itself as both a laboratory and in situ analytical method for fast and sensitive drug detection and identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due the importance of developing successful drug delivery platforms, the current research work done to assess the iron-decorated C 24 fullerene-like nanocages for the adsorption of naproxen (NPX) drug along with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. NPX is among the important non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in which its enhancement has been still under development. Accordingly, the focus of this work was on the customization of a carrier model for the NPX drug by investigating the electronic and structural features of interacting conjugated systems. To do this, three iron-decorated nanocages including FeC 24 , FeC 23 , and FeC 22 models were prepared to assess the adsorption process to yield the NPX@FeC 24 , NPX@FeC 23 , and NPX@FeC 22 conjugated systems. Different levels of electronic molecular orbital levels and adsorption strengths were achieved regarding the interaction of NPX and iron-decorated nanocages, in which the NPX@FeC 22 model was at the highest level of strength and also electronic variations. Accordingly, suitable adsorption and detection of NPX drug were found by the assistance of iron-decorated nanocage models. Especially in the water solvent, the models of conjugations were found still stable by the advantage of iron-decorated conjugated systems. The results of this work could be proposed for further study of NPX drug delivery issues based on the iron-decorated fullerene-like nanocages. [Display omitted] • Iron-decorated C 24 fullerene-like nanocages were assed for adsorbing the NPX drug. • The formation of NPX@nanocage conjugations was enhanced by the iron-decoration. • A managing role of O...Fe interactions was found for the conjugations. • The conjugated models were found stable in the water solvent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selective detection of biochemical substances with high sensitivity in the terahertz (THz) band has emerged as a prominent research area, attracting significant attention. Waveguide-on-chip detection of biochemical substances can effectively enhance the interaction between samples and waves, but there is a lack of reports in the THz band. In this work, a dual-channel metallic parallel-plate waveguide (PPWG) is applied to creatively construct a THz Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) sensor for highly sensitive and selective detection of reducing drug on a chip. This sensor exhibits a strong numerical response of 0.75 THz/RIU, allowing for dynamic sensitivity adjustment through mechanically tuning structural parameters, and it is modified through in-situ growth of Prussian blue (PB) to achieve the selective detection of reducing drug. The experiments confirm that the designed sensor-on-chip possesses exceptional detection sensitivity for cysteamine, reaching an impressive maximum sensitivity of 0.09 GHz/nmol and a low limit of detection of 88 nmol. The modified chip exhibits selective detection of cysteamine, demonstrating a maximum response difference of 4.2 times compared to other configurations. Collectively, a pioneer validates the feasibility of the highly sensitive MZI chip in the THz regime and opens up new possibilities for advancing THz biochemical sensing. [Display omitted] • The Mach-Zehnder interferometer sensor is creatively constructed in the THz regime. • The THz Mach-Zehnder interferometer sensor possesses high sensitivity and selectiveness. • The sensitivity allows for flexible control by mechanical adjustment of structural parameters. • The functional modification of the sensor is carried out using Prussian blue in-situ growth. • Selective recognition of reducing drugs can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Role of microfluidic setup in revolutionizing industries by enabling precise fluid control. • Impact of microchannel inlet, design geometries on mixing and reaction efficiency. • Versatile applications of microfluidic devices as nanoparticles in drug detection, and wastewater treatment. • Strategies and challenges of the microfluidic system in scale-up, energy consumption, and costing. Microfluidic systems, which are small-scale platforms for controlling fluid flow, have a vast potential to transform numerous industries. This review focuses on the critical role of microfluidic setup configurations in enhancing mixing and reaction efficiencies across diverse industries. We began by examining microchannel designs, including inlet geometries and design shapes. These designs enhance heat distribution and fluid control, ultimately improving mass transfer and mixing efficiency. Our analysis showcases various applications of microfluidic devices in pharmaceuticals, biology, textiles, electronics, and food production. These applications have the potential to revolutionize nanoparticle synthesis, wastewater treatment, and drug detection, particularly in wastewater. Microfluidic devices offer rapid and cost-effective solutions for contaminant and drug monitoring. Customizing fluid pathways and sensors enhances detection precision and speed, enabling real-time pollution monitoring. Moreover, this review highlights the advantages of microfluidics in wastewater treatment compared with conventional methods. It also discusses challenges such as scalability, feasibility, manufacturing costs, raw materials, and energy consumption. This literature review provides a novel contribution to comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and critical analyses of microfluidic setup configurations and their impacts across industries. It not only identifies the potential benefits but also acknowledges and addresses the limitations and challenges of microfluidic systems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Synthesis of novel Copper Molybdenum bimetallic MOF by simple cost-effective hydrothermal method. • Introduction of synthesized Cu Mo bimetallic MOF in electrochemical detection of Rifampicin. • Electroanalytical techniques such as Cyclic Voltammetry, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, and Differential Pulse Voltammetry are employed. • The linearity range showed a LOD of 0.14 µM and LOQ of 0.435 µM and it could be further used for real samples. A highly sensitive electrochemical sensor was developed by modifying the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using bimetal organic frameworks, Cu-Mo MOFs, synthesized by a facile hydrothermal method, for the detection of rifampicin (RIF). The as prepared material was analyzed using, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The Cu-Mo MOFs/GCE was characterized by various electro analytical methods such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) under the optimal conditions (pH 7.0). The effective surface area of 0.00728 cm2, and low charge transfer resistance results in the enhanced performance of the developed sensor. The Cu-Mo MOFs/GCE showed low LOD of 0.14 µM and LOQ of 0.435 µM over the range of 0.5 µM–150 µM. The modified GCE has robust stability showing the RSD value of 2.56 % and good reproducibility. The electrochemical performance might be attributed to good stability, selectivity, and sensitivity towards the detection of RIF. It could be effectively used for the sensitive detection of RIF in real sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental disease with a heavy social and economic burden that causes extreme mood swings in patients. Valproate is a first-line drug for bipolar disorder patients to stabilize their daily mood. However, an excessive amount of valproate in the blood could induce severe adverse effects, which necessitates the monitoring of blood valproate levels for patients. Here, we developed an innovative electrochemical sensor for selective and simple detection of valproate based on a molecularly imprinted polymer membrane via one-step electropolymerization. Gold nanoparticles were electrochemically modified to the screen-printed electrode under the selective membrane to enhance its conductivity and stability. The successfully fabricated biosensor was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry methods. The binding of the target molecules to the valproate-customized biomimetic polypyrrole membrane blocks cavities in the membrane and alters its electric properties, which can be detected as a decrease in the peak current by differential pulse voltammetry method. The peak current change presents a great log-linear response to the valproate concentration around the therapeutic window. The limit of detection of this method was 17.48 μM (LOD, S/N = 3) and the sensitivity was 31.86 μM μA−1. Furthermore, the biosensors exhibited both satisfying specificity with the interference of other psychological pharmaceutical drugs and uniformity among sensors, indicating their potential and reliability in translational application. This simple and reliable method of sensing valproate molecules primarily provides an exceptional solution to valproate point-of-care testing in clinical practice.

Molecularly imprinted polymers have reached a relatively mature stage in preparation methods and applications・ Molecularly imprinted sensors are of great significance to medical use and human health in drug detect!on. Five preparation methods of molecularly imprinted sensors are briefly introduced? and the application status of molecularly imprinted sensors (molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensor? molecularly imprinted optical sensor? molecularly imprinted mass-sensitive sensor) is analyzed in drug detec-tion. Finally，the future development direction of molecularly imprinted sensors is prospected，and its performance and application range can be improved and expanded by combining it with some functional terials and advanced technologies，analyze and put forward some urgent problems and suggestions for improvement ，which were expected to provide some references and ideas for the future development of molecularly imprinted sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is aimed at the development of automatic drug image verification functions. Our verification system is composed of two stages. The first stage is an arbitrarily axis-aligned object detector, which is mainly based on a deep residual network and feature pyramid network (FPN). The detector predicts the rotation bounding boxes for drugs using multiscale feature maps generated by the FPN. Then, the rotation bounding boxes are axially aligned, and the drug image is cropped according to the axis-aligned bounding box. The second stage is a feature matcher, which is based on a feature embedding network. The embedding feature extracted by the feature embedding network is combined with the geometric feature obtained by the arbitrarily axis-aligned object detector to determine whether the drug in the image belongs to the category specified by the user. The database used in this research is an image database created by imaging drugs provided by domestic local medical centers. Our verification system achieved a false positive rate (FPR) of 0.047% in verification tasks of drugs of 21 categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel potentiometric microelectrode incorporating a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was fabricated, characterized, and successfully applied to the recognition and quantification of the drug, metronidazole benzoate. The elaborated MIP-based sensor was realized by thermal polarization, using metronidazole benzoate as the template material, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidine (VP) as a functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linking agent in the presence of benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The MIP-based sensor exhibited a super-Nernstian response (61.5 ± 0.5, mV/decade) covering the linear concentration range of 1 × 10−8–1 × 10−3 mole L−1 of metronidazole benzoate with a fast response time (≤10, s.) and detection limit of 7 × 10−9 mole L−1. The microchip showed high selectivity toward the template drug molecule in the presence of many investigated interfering species. The chip electrode was successfully used in the quantification of metronidazole benzoate in some real biological samples with high accuracy (recovery, 95.4%) and precision (RSD, 1.5). Moreover, the merits offered by the elaborated MIP-based MB microchip assembly include small size, miniaturization, integration, and consequently, automation feasibility.

In vivo drug monitoring is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness and safety of drug treatment. Blood sampling and analysis is the current gold standard but needs professional skills and cannot meet the requirements of point-of-care testing. Dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) showed great potential to replace blood for in vivo drug monitoring; however, the detection was challenging, and the drug distribution behavior in ISF was still unclear until now. In this study, we proposed surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) microneedles (MNs) for the painless and real-time analysis of drugs in ISF after intravenous injection. Using methylene blue (MB) and mitoxantrone (MTO) as model drugs, the innovative core-satellite structured Au@Ag SERS substrate, hydrogel coating over the MNs, rendered sensitive and quantitative drug detection in ISF of mice within 10 min. Based on this technique, the pharmacokinetics of the two drugs in ISF was investigated and compared with those in blood, where the drugs were analyzed via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. It was found that the MB concentration in ISF and blood was comparable, whereas the concentration of MTO in ISF was 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than in blood. This work proposed an efficient tool for ISF drug monitoring. More importantly, it experimentally proved that the penetration ratio of blood to ISF was drug-dependent, providing insightful information into the potential of ISF as a blood alternative for in vivo drug detection.

Herein, we report a proof of concept based on non-enzymatic detection of the anti-anxiety drug clonazepam (CZP). The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized via Turkevich method. Electrophoretic deposition of pristine AuNPs onto an indium tin oxide-coated glass substrate resulted in uniform film of Au nanostructures. Cyclic voltammetry has been used for the kinetic study of nanostructured gold and its response to the detection of CZP. Different metrological aspects were evaluated for the film, such as detection limit, sensitivity, repeatability, and reproducibility. The nanostructured film demonstrated linear voltammetric response to CZP concentration in the range of 1–9 μM, with low detection limit of 0.55 μM and high sensitivity of 14.77 μA/μM/cm2. Artificial blood samples were prepared as per IS 16546:2016 standard. Recovery analysis of CZP in spiked samples of artificial blood revealed recoveries between 88 and 100%. This Au nanostructured platform for the detection of the anti-anxiety drug has implications for the development of efficient and non-enzymatic sensor in the field of forensics and toxicology screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the progress of science and technology and the improvement of people's living standards, the performance of traditional materials can no longer fully meet the needs of social development. Graphitic phase carbon nitride (g‐C3N4), as a new type of nanomaterial, has good properties. Its unique graphite like structure and stable thermodynamic characteristics have led an increasing number of researchers to explore its diverse functions and use this as a basis to develop related energy and products for applications in various fields. Among them, applications in the field of medicine health have become popular in recent years. Therefore, this review summarizes the synthesis methods of g‐C3N4 and its composites, as well as their applications in food, medicine, environmental monitoring and disease treatment, in the hope of providing references and basis for further expanding the applications of g‐C3N4 in large health areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundAdherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is critical for efficacy. Antiretroviral concentrations are an objective measure of PrEP use and correlate with efficacy. Understanding patterns and correlates of drug detection can identify populations at risk for nonadherence and inform design of PrEP adherence interventions.MethodsBlood antiretroviral concentrations were assessed among active arm participants in iPrEx, a randomized placebo-controlled trial of emtricitabine/tenofovir in men who have sex with men and transgender women in 6 countries. We evaluated rates and correlates of drug detection among a random sample of 470 participants at week 8 and a longitudinal cohort of 303 participants through 72 weeks of follow-up.ResultsOverall, 55% of participants (95% confidence interval: 49 to 60) tested at week 8 had drug detected. Drug detection was associated with older age and varied by study site. In longitudinal analysis, 31% never had drug detected, 30% always had drug detected, and 39% had an inconsistent pattern. Overall detection rates declined over time. Drug detection at some or all visits was associated with older age, indices of sexual risk, including condomless receptive anal sex, and responding "don't know" to a question about belief of PrEP efficacy (0-10 scale).ConclusionsDistinct patterns of study product use were identified, with a significant proportion demonstrating no drug detection at any visit. Research literacy may explain greater drug detection among populations having greater research experience, such as older men who have sex with men in the United States. Greater drug detection among those reporting highest risk sexual practices is expected to increase the impact and cost-effectiveness of PrEP.

The presence of pharmaceutical residues in urban and non-urban water is a reflection of the continuous growth of an essential industry, whose residues are often released into the environment throughout the manufacturing processes of commercial drugs, and by the human and veterinarian consumption of these products. Pharmaceutical residues are currently classified as emerging contaminants, and their documented occurrence in waters has rocketed since recent discoveries have demonstrated a series of toxicological and ecotoxicological effects associated with the interaction with these molecules. Moreover, several complications have been identified in the instrumental techniques traditionally used for their detection, although their remarkable analytical characteristics, deriving in the absence of response when these emerging contaminants are present at low concentrations in aquatic matrices. Microfluidic analytical platforms are practical, portable, and low-cost solutions that have been successfully used for the screening of pharmaceuticals in environmental matrices in situ. In this short review, various essential aspects of these technologies were presented. Additionally, recent approaches for water analysis using different types of microfluidic technologies for detecting drugs were exposed, finding a promising potential on the exploiting of the features offered by these platforms for this particular application.

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The international drug situation is increasingly, various new drugs are hidden in public places through changing forms and packaging, which brings new challenges to drug enforcement. This study proposes a drug-detecting bioelectronic nose based on odor cue memory combined with brain-computer interface and optogenetic regulation technologies. First, the rats were trained to generate positive memories of drug odors through food reward training, and multichannel microelectrodes were implanted into the DG region of the hippocampus for responsible memory retrieval, the spike signals of individual neurons and the local field potential signals of population neurons in the brain region were collected for pattern recognition and analysis. Preliminary experimental results have shown that when low-dose drugs are buried in a hidden area, rats can find the location of the drugs in a very short time, and when close to the relevant area, there is a significant change in the energy value and time-frequency spectrum signal coupling of the returned data, which can be extracted to indicate that the rats have found the drugs. Second, we labled the neuronal activity marker c-fos and revealed more robust activation in the DG region following odor detection. We modulated these neurons through neuroregulatory technology, so that the rats could recognize drugs by retrieving memories more quickly. We conceive that the drug-detecting rat robot can detect trace amounts of various drugs in complex terrain and multiple scenes, which is of great significance for anti-drug work in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main challenge has been focused on ibuprofen drug detection and adsorption of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) doping with transition metal (TM = Fe, Ni, and Pt) atoms using the density functional theory calculation in gas and water phases. The geometrical structures, adsorption energies, solvation energies, and electronic properties were examined. The optimized geometries show that the ibuprofen molecule oriented itself at different bond distances and angles with respect to BNNT surface. The calculated results display exothermic adsorption processes for all ibuprofen/BNNT and ibuprofen/TM–doped BNNT complexes. Ibuprofen molecule can absorb on the Fe–, Ni–, and Pt–doped BNNTs via a stronger interaction than those of pristine BNNT in both gas and water phases in which the Fe doping on N site of BNNT shows the strongest interaction with ibuprofen molecule. The H (head) site of ibuprofen molecule to BNNT surface shows stronger interaction than M (middle) and T (tail) sites. The short of adsorption distance and the large of charge transfer correspond to the high adsorption strength of TM–doped BNNTs toward ibuprofen molecule. Charge analysis confirms the partial charge transfer occurring from the ibuprofen molecule to the BNNTs. The solvation energies in water solution reveal that the ibuprofen molecule adsorbed on TM–doped BNNTs is more soluble than pristine BNNT. The work functions of BNNTs are reduced by ibuprofen adsorption. A short recovery times and suitable desorption temperatures are observed for the ibuprofen desorption on pristine BNNT and TM–doped BNNT surfaces. After ibuprofen adsorption, the energy levels and energy gaps of Fe–, Ni–, and Pt–doped BNNTs are changed in which Ni doping on B atom of BNNT displays the largest change. The quantum molecular characteristics of BNNT will be changed after ibuprofen adsorption. The orbital distributions are occurred around the ibuprofen molecule and doping site. The alteration in the density of states for TM–doped BNNT is considerably more pronounced compared to the pristine BNNT. Drawing from the achieved outcomes, it can be inferred that when employed for the delivery of ibuprofen in biological media, Fe–, Ni–, and Pt–doped BNNTs exhibits the greater suitability for the adsorption and detection of the ibuprofen molecule compared to pristine BNNT. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A better paracetamol drug adsorption was found by the iron-encapsulated BC nanocage. • The formation of PMOL@FBC complex was stronger than that of the PMOL@BC complex. • The iron-encapsulated BC nanocage was specified for the adsorption process. • The analyses reveled an enhanced adsorption of PMOL drug by the FBC nanocage. By various importance of paracetamol (PMOL) drug adsorption from environmental issues to drug overdose abasement, the current work was done to recognize the capability of an iron-encapsulated boron carbide (FBC) nanocage for working as a suitable adsorbent. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to stabilize the structures for being analyzed regarding the structural and electronic features. Accordingly, the results indicated a higher strength of formation for the PMOL@FBC complex in comparison with the PMOL@BC complex. Additionally, the variations of molecular orbital features indicated a higher sensitivity of detection of PMOL substance by the assistance of FBC nanocage. As a final remark, this claim "the iron-encapsulation yielded an enhanced boron carbide nanocage for better adsorbing the paracetamol drug" was affirmed by both of structural and electronic analyses revealing the importance of iron-encapsulation for approaching a better result of PMOL drug adsorption by the assistance of FBC nanocage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveTo evaluate the concordance between adherence estimated by self-report (in-person interview or computer-assisted self-interview), in-clinic pill counts, and pharmacy dispensation records and drug detection among participants in a placebo-controlled pre-exposure prophylaxis HIV prevention trial (iPrEx).DesignCross-sectional evaluation of 510 participants who had drug concentration data and matched adherence assessments from their week-24 study visit.MethodsSelf-reported adherence collected through (1) interview and (2) computer-assisted self-interview surveys, (3) adherence estimated by pill count, and (4) medication possession ratio was contrasted to having a detectable level of drug concentrations [either tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) or emtricitabine triphosphate (FTC-TP)], as well as to having evidence of consistent dosing (tenofovir diphosphate ≥ 16 fmol/10⁶ cells), focusing on positive predictive values, overall and by research site.ResultsOverall, self-report and pharmacy records suggested high rates of product use (over 90% adherence); however, large discrepancies between these measures and drug detection were noted, which varied considerably between sites (positive predictive values from 34% to 62%). Measures of adherence performed generally well in the US sites but had poor accuracy in other research locations. Medication possession ratio outperformed other measures but still had relatively low discrimination.ConclusionsThe sizable discrepancy between adherence measures and drug detection in certain regions highlights the potential contribution of factors that may have incentivized efforts to seem adherent. Understanding the processes driving adherence reporting in some settings, but not others, is essential for finding effective ways to increase accuracy in measurement of product use and may generalize to promotion efforts for open-label pre-exposure prophylaxis.

The rapid increase in illicit drug use and its adverse health effects and socio-economic consequences have reached alarming proportions in recent years. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a highly sensitive analytical tool for the detection of low dosages of drugs in liquid and solid samples. In the present article, we review the state-of-the-art use of SERS for chemical analysis of illicit drugs in aqueous and complex biological samples, including saliva, urine, and blood. We also include a review of the types of SERS substrates used for this purpose, pointing out recent advancements in substrate fabrication towards quantitative and qualitative detection of illicit drugs. Finally, we conclude by providing our perspective on the field of SERS-based drug detection, including presently faced challenges. Overall, our review provides evidence of the strong potential of SERS to establish itself as both a laboratory and in situ analytical method for fast and sensitive drug detection and identification.

Density functional theory calculations based on the TPSS functional were performed to investigate the potential application of the pristine AlN nanosheet (AlNNS) as well as the Au-decorated AlNNS (Au@AlNNS) in the detection of the theophylline (TP) drug. We found that the pristine sheet weakly adsorbed the drug, and its sensing response was about 6.0. After the Au-decoration on the AlNNS, the TP drug was powerfully adsorbed onto the Au@AlNNS with the adsorption energy of −1.33 eV, and the sensing response increased to 689.2. The localised molecular orbital energy decomposition analysis illustrated that the electrostatic attraction is stronger than the covalent interaction after the TP adsorption onto the Au@AlNNS. Based on the partial density of state analysis, the TP drug created a new state through the HOMO–LUMO gap of Au@AlNNS, which significantly increased the electrical conductivity. A short recovery time of 2.51 s was attained for the TP desorption from the Au@AlNNS surface. The water solvent weakened the adsorption process and decreased the sensing response to 524.6. Based on the results, we suggested the Au@AlNNS as a biosensor for the TP drug recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, illicit drug testing has become a high priority area in law enforcement and forensic analysis. Since patents are the largest source of technical information in the world, patent database analysis for illicit drug testing is extremely important to effectively promote the development and protection of the related intellectual property rights.In the present study, we first retrieve a database of 1732 drug detection patents using keywords and logical expressions related to the title, abstract, and claims, and subsequently discuss the current global patent statistics in detail.The relevant patent information is presented, including patent application quantity, filing country, ownership, and technical field. Finally, we summarize the current development trend in drug testing and propose several suggestions focused on the bottleneck of analytical techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper presents an inventive technique to swiftly create microfluidic channels on distinct membrane papers, enabling colorimetric drug detection. Using a modified DIY RepRap 3D printer with a syringe pump, microfluidic channels (µPADs) are crafted on a flexible nylon-based substrate. This allows simultaneous detection of four common drugs with a single reagent. An optimized blend of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) dissolved in hexane is used to create hydrophobic channels on various filter papers. The PDMS-hexane mixture infiltrates the paper's pores, forming hydrophobic barriers that confine liquids within the channels. These barriers are cured on the printer's hot plate, controlling channel width and preventing spreading. Capillary action drives fluid along these paths without spreading. This novel approach provides a versatile solution for rapid microfluidic channel creation on membrane papers. The DIY RepRap 3D printer integration offers precise control and faster curing. The PDMS-hexane solution accurately forms hydrophobic barriers, containing liquids within desired channels. The resulting microfluidic system holds potential for portable, cost-effective drug detection and various sensing applications., Competing Interests: We declare we have no competing interests., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Experimental studies have shown that the decoration of a metal oxide nanostructure by the noble metals increases its sensitivity toward different chemicals to a great extent. Here, the sensing properties of a pristine ZnO nanotube (ZnON) and its Pt-decorated form (Pt@ZnON) were investigated toward the sulfathiazole (STZ) drug by implementing density functional theory calculations. The pristine ZnON adsorbs the STZ drug weakly with the adsorption energy (Ead) of –5.2 kcal/mol, and cannot detect it because of a minor sensing response of 3.38 at room temperature. A Pt atom was decorated on the ZnON surface with the Ead of –45.2 kcal/mol. Pt-decoration increased the Ead of STZ and the sensing response of the ZnON to −35.5 kcal/mol and 485.27, respectively. We concluded that the Pt@ZnON could be a promising candidate for application in the STZ drug sensors. A short recovery time of 12 s was also predicted for Pt@ZnO-based sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectra of a benzodiazepine molecule, oxazepam, have been recorded using a nanoporous silica matrix containing gold nanoparticles as SERS substrate. In the measured spectra, we clearly observe spectral fluctuations, with slight shifts in wavenumber, appearance, and disappearance of peaks and variations in the shape of some peaks. By comparison with spectra simulated by density functional theory, we attribute those fluctuations to the experimental signature of various adsorption sites of the molecule on the gold surface. The effect of temperature and laser power was also studied, suggesting that changes in absorption sites can be optically activated. Such features could cause misinterpretation of SERS spectra and errors in the identification of drugs. We suggest that they should be systematically considered for the correct interpretation of SERS spectra of drug molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considered one of the best odor detectors, dogs go through a rigorous selection and training process. Based on learning theories, modern techniques are used for dog training, respecting individual characteristics, efficiency, and well-being. Since narcotics detection work is perceived as a "play" for the dog, in practice, this promotes a high use rate in the service. The performance of handlers influences the work of the dogs, and well-trained and well-run dogs must work comfortably and accurately. This paper aimed to review the aspects related to the selection, training, and performance of narcotics detection dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]