Nanoscale supramolecular probes for the naked-eye detection of illicit drugs

Abstract

The identification of psychoactive substances, in particular of designer drugs, on the site of their discovery is crucial to contrast the diffusion of drugs of abuse. We report here the first example of a nanoscale colorimetric probe, based on the nanoconfinement of a tricyclic dye and the target analytes in the cavity of cucurbit[8]uril. The probe selectively responds to N-(2methoxybenzyl)phenethylamines, with a limit of detection of 3 μM. The sensing system can be deposited on paper, thus obtaining a colorimetric strip test capable of discriminating illegal drugs from other substances of common use.