INNOVATIVE APPROACHES FOR RAPID FENTANYL DETECTION IN TRAFFICKED CARGO
Project Goal
Development of a non-contact, and highly sensitive vapor-based sensor for accurate and selective detection of illicit fentanyl and related substances.
Designing and realization of a robotic platform equipped with the novel sensor towards rapid and on-site detection of the opioid.
Scientific Background
Fentanyl and its analogs are synthetic opioids that can be easily concealed, transported in small quantities, and mixed with other substances, making it challenging to locate during trafficking intervention.
Limitations of Existing Techniques:
Immunoassays: These can be prone to false positives or require skilled personnel and laboratory analysis, limiting their on-site utility.
Mass Spectroscopy/ IMS: Though accurate, these systems are often bulky, expensive, and require specialized operators, making them unsuitable for rapid field deployment.
Electrochemical Methods: While potentially portable, their sensitivity and selectivity for complex mixtures might be limited for on-site fentanyl screening.
Key Innovations
Development of a novel chemiresistive sensor to achieve a lower detection limit of 100 ppb of fentanyl detection, improving sensitivity and selectivity.
Immobilization of detection media on a solid-state hydrogel substrate for improved portability and ease of use, addressing issues of liquid media detection methods.
Assembly of a colorimetric sensor array for all opioid drugs in a panel for multiplexing, enabling the detection of a wide range of drugs simultaneously.
Mounting a sensor array on a robotic hand for portable, non-contact, vapor-phase detection, facilitating dynamic monitoring of absorption wavelength changes.
Utilization of electronic nose (e-nose) technology to detect fentanyl based on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), offering a non-contact detection method.
Development of a fully automated robotic arm coupled with a spectrophotometer for remote sensing and detection of fentanyl, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in detection processes.
