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Developing Aptamer-Based Colorimetric Opioid Tests.

Juan Canoura1, Obtin Alkhamis1, Matthew Venzke1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, 2620 Yarbrough Dr., Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New aptamer-based sensors offer rapid, on-site detection of opioids like heroin and oxycodone. These colorimetric assays provide accurate identification in complex mixtures, aiding in the fight against opioid abuse.

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Area of Science:

  • Biotechnology
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Forensic Science

Background:

  • Opioid overdose deaths exceed 80,000 annually in the US.
  • Rapid on-site identification of seized opioids is crucial for law enforcement.
  • Current methods like chemical tests lack specificity, and Raman spectroscopy struggles with impure samples.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop novel on-site sensors for detecting morphine and related opioid compounds.
  • To create specific and sensitive detection methods for illicit opioid identification.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro selection of aptamers (oligonucleotide affinity reagents) for specific opioid recognition.
  • Utilized parallel-and-serial and toggle-selection strategies for aptamer isolation.
  • Employed high-throughput sequencing and exonuclease-based screening to identify optimal aptamers.
  • Developed colorimetric dye-displacement assays using high-performance aptamers.

Main Results:

  • Isolated aptamers recognizing heroin, morphine, codeine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone, and oxymorphone.
  • Developed colorimetric assays detecting opioids (e.g., heroin, oxycodone) at concentrations as low as 0.5 μM.
  • Assays demonstrated specificity in complex matrices like pharmaceutical tablets and drug mixtures, outperforming the Marquis test.
  • Achieved naked-eye identification of specific opioids within seconds.

Conclusions:

  • Aptamer-based colorimetric assays provide a rapid, specific, and sensitive method for on-site opioid detection.
  • These sensors can effectively identify opioids in challenging real-world samples.
  • The developed technology offers a valuable tool for combating opioid trafficking and abuse.