A sensitive nanosensor for the in situ detection of the cannibal drug

[EN] 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.