Application of Biofunctionalized Magnetic Nanoparticles Based-Sensing in Abused Drugs Diagnostics

Real-time detection of substance use is an approach of high interest leading to the optimization of behavioral interventions and drug abuse intervention. The current methods in use suffer many limitations and need high logistical and laboratory requirements. Biosensors have shown a great potential in overcoming these limitations. In the present study, the electrochemical biosensor composed of a screen-printed electrode (SPE) was designed for the detection of synthetic cannabinoid (SC). Antibody-immobilized magnetic nanoparticles were also used to create a surface on the transducer with magnetic interactions in order to detect JWH-073 as a SC model. The use of immobilized magnetic nanoparticles to create working surfaces makes the electrode a reusable SPE which can be reutilized after the cleansing. To examine and observe any possible changes on the surface due to its interaction with the analyte, different electrochemical techniques such as differential pulse voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectrometry were applied. Based on the obtained results, the linearity of the biosensor was found between 5 and 400 ng/mL, and the detection limit was calculated as 22 ng/mL (n = 6) using the 3 Sb/m formula. The biosensor functionality was studied in the presence of some related interferents that showed lower responses than JWH-073, thus demonstrating the good selectivity of the prepared biosensor. Finally, the sensory platform was used to test synthetic urine sample, and the results were compared with obtained results from liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF/MS), which showed that the proposed method could be utilized to identify abuse drugs.