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Colorimetric paper sensor for visual detection of date-rape drug γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB)
Drug-facilitated crimes using date-rape drugs are on the rise. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a notorious date-rape drug, is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and therefore difficult to detect in beverages. The ingestion of GHB can severely incapacitate individuals by inducing dizziness, drowsin...
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Published in: | Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2021-11, Vol.347, p.130598, Article 130598 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Drug-facilitated crimes using date-rape drugs are on the rise. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), a notorious date-rape drug, is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, and therefore difficult to detect in beverages. The ingestion of GHB can severely incapacitate individuals by inducing dizziness, drowsiness, and unconsciousness, making them vulnerable to crimes. To prevent drug-facilitated crimes, a GHB detection kit is developed in which PCDA-gabazine and PCDA, which strongly interact with GHB, are used as sensing materials, while PEO and PVDF are used as matrix materials that enable rapid GHB detection in a short time by increasing the penetration rate of the liquid samples. Detection kits are fabricated by electrospinning a solution containing the sensing materials and matrix materials mixed in an optimal ratio. The color of the kit distinctly changes from blue to red when a drink spiked with GHB is dropped on it (limit of detection: about 0.0096 wt%). The fabricated GHB detection kit is easy to carry and provides a visually distinguishable detection result without requiring any complicated procedure, equipment, or trained personnel. Importantly, the kit can detect GHB in colored and alcoholic beverages. Furthermore, a mobile application is developed that can aid GHB detection using the kit in diverse environments.
•GHB detection kit is a colorimetric paper sensor that can quickly and easily detect GHB with the naked eye.•This kit is a paper sensor based on PCDA-gabazine and PCDA nanofibers with interaction energy with GHB.•This kit visually indicates the presence of GHB in drinks by its color change (LOD: 9.6 μg/mL).•This kit helps to prevent drug-facilitated crimes in advance by preventing unintentional ingestion of GHB, date-rape drug. |
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ISSN: | 0925-4005 1873-3077 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.snb.2021.130598 |