Colorimetric and fluorescent detection of synthetic cathinones in oral fluid with meso-aryl BODIPYs and Cu(ii)

Jordi Hernández-Contreras; Margarita Parra; Salvador Gil; Ana M Costero; Pau Arroyo; Félix Sancenón; Ramón Martínez-Máñez; José A Sáez; Pablo Gaviña

doi:10.1039/d2ra05188e

Colorimetric and fluorescent detection of synthetic cathinones in oral fluid with meso-aryl BODIPYs and Cu(ii)

RSC Adv. 2022 Oct 20;12(44):28580-28585. doi: 10.1039/d2ra05188e. eCollection 2022 Oct 4.

Authors

Jordi Hernández-Contreras¹, Margarita Parra^{1

2

3}, Salvador Gil^{1

2

3}, Ana M Costero^{1

2

3}, Pau Arroyo^{1

2}, Félix Sancenón^{1

3

4}, Ramón Martínez-Máñez^{1

3

4}, José A Sáez^{1

2}, Pablo Gaviña^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Instituto Interuniversitario de Investigación de Reconocimiento Molecular y Desarrollo Tecnológico (IDM), Universitat Politècnica de València, Universitat de València Doctor Moliner 50, Burjassot Valencia 46100 Spain pablo.gavina@uv.es Jose.A.Saez@uv.es.
² Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universitat de València Doctor Moliner 50, Burjassot Valencia 46100 Spain.
³ CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biometariales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN) Spain.
⁴ Departamento de Química, Universitat Politècnica de València Camino de Vera s/n Valencia 46022 Spain.

Abstract

Synthetic cathinones are a class of new psychoactive substances whose consumption has increased a lot and is widespread throughout the world. Thus, there is currently a need for rapid and simple detection of these drugs. In particular, detection of synthetic cathinones in oral fluid in drivers can be of great importance in preventing traffic accidents. Herein, we report two probes, based on BODIPY derivatives combined with Cu(ii), which are able to detect these drugs both in water and in oral fluid, by changes in color and fluorescence. The determined limits of detection for ephedrone (as a model drug) are lower than the usual concentrations in saliva after intake of this type of drug. The sensing mechanism seems to be related to the cathinone induced reduction of Cu(ii) to Cu(i) with concomitants changes in the BODIPY structure.