title: On the possibility of ephedrine detection: time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based approach.
abstract: Ephedrine is one of the main precursor compounds used in the illegal production of amphetamines and related drugs. Actually, conventional analytical methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) are used for the detection of ephedrine; sadly, these methods require qualified personnel and are time-consuming and expensive. In order to overcome these problems, in recent years, different methods have been developed based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and electrochemical method. In this work, we present a simple, rapid, and effective method to detect the presence of ephedrine in solution, based on competitive fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay. The antibody anti-ephedrine and ephedrine derivative were produced and labeled respectively, with two different fluorescent probes (donor and acceptor). The change in FRET signal intensity between donor and acceptor ephedrine compounds gives the possibility of detecting ephedrine traces of at least 0.81 ± 0.04 ppm (LOD). Graphical abstract A new Time-resolved Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) assay for ephedrine detection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, CNR, Via Roma 52, 83100, Avellino, Italy. antonio.varriale@isa.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varriale
authors.affiliation: Institute of Protein Biochemistry, CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo Manuel
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Marzullo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, CNR, Via Roma 52, 83100, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Di Giovanni
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, CNR, Via Roma 52, 83100, Avellino, Italy.|Institute of Protein Biochemistry, CNR, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scala
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, CNR, Via Roma 52, 83100, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, CNR, Via Roma 52, 83100, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Adelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majoli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, CNR, Via Roma 52, 83100, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pennacchio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, CNR, Via Roma 52, 83100, Avellino, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Staiano
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science, CNR, Via Roma 52, 83100, Avellino, Italy. sabato.dauria@cnr.it.
authors.forename: Sabato
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Auria
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis*; D029790:Ephedra sinica / Q000737:chemistry; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000032:analysis*; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000737:chemistry; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry; D057230:Limit of Detection; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D004809:Ephedrine
keywords: Antibody; Biosensors; Ephedrine detection; Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)