Detection of drugs of abuse in saliva by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

Appl Spectrosc. 2011 Sep;65(9):1004-8. doi: 10.1366/11-06310.

Abstract

Eighty drugs of abuse and metabolites were successfully measured by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) using gold- and silver-doped sol-gels immobilized in glass capillaries. A method was developed that provided consistent detection of 50 ppb cocaine in saliva in a focused study. This general method was successfully applied to the detection of a number of additional drugs in saliva, such as amphetamine, diazepam, and methadone.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Gold / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs / analysis*
  • ROC Curve
  • Saliva / chemistry*
  • Silver / chemistry
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman / methods*

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs
  • Silver
  • Gold