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Reaction-induced fluorogenic sensing of benzodiazepines: a 3D-printed smartphone-based device with multivariate RGB
Thiago Alvares Zamaro de Freitas1,2, Matheus Martins Guedes1, Camilla Fonseca Silva1,3
1Departamento de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei (UFSJ), Campus Dom Bosco, Praça Dom Helvécio 74, Fábricas, 36301-160, São João Del-Rei, Minas Gerais, Brazil. keyller@ufsj.edu.br.
Summary
A 3D-printed device enables low-cost, rapid detection of benzodiazepines (BZD) using smartphone RGB analysis. This method offers a portable and cost-effective alternative for analyzing BZDs in various samples.
Area of Science:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Benzodiazepines (BZD) are widely prescribed but pose risks of abuse and dependence.
- Accurate and accessible detection methods are crucial for clinical and forensic applications.
- Existing analytical techniques can be expensive, time-consuming, or require specialized equipment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a low-cost, 3D-printed fluorimetric platform for benzodiazepine detection.
- To utilize smartphone-based RGB image analysis for quantitative BZD determination.
- To establish a rapid and portable analytical method for benzodiazepine screening.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a 3D-printed fluorimetric device for UV-A excitation.
- Development of a method based on hypochlorite-induced fluorogenesis of BZDs.
- Quantitative analysis using smartphone RGB image processing and multivariate analysis (MLR).
- Validation using mass spectrometry, UV-vis, and photoluminescence spectroscopy.
Main Results:
- The 3D-printed platform enabled detection of clonazepam, diazepam, bromazepam, and midazolam.
- Hypochlorite oxidation generated fluorescent benzophenone-like products.
- Smartphone RGB analysis, particularly the green channel, showed linear response for clonazepam (0-100 µg mL⁻¹).
- MLR analysis improved performance (R² = 0.9998) with a limit of detection of 0.05 µg mL⁻¹.
Conclusions:
- The developed 3D-printed platform provides a cost-effective and rapid method for benzodiazepine detection.
- Smartphone-based RGB analysis offers a viable alternative to conventional analytical techniques.
- The portable platform demonstrates potential for on-site screening and analysis of benzodiazepines.
