title: Trace detection of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) with a SERS-based capillary platform prepared by the in situ microwave synthesis of AgNPs.
abstract: In the present study, an ultra-sensitive and highly reproducible novel SERS-based capillary platform was developed and utilized for the trace detection of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The approach combines the advantages of microwave-assisted nanoparticle synthesis, plasmonics and capillary forces. By employing a microwave-assisted preparation method, glass capillaries were reproducibly coated with silver nanoparticles in a batch fabrication process that required a processing time of 3 min without needing to use any pre-surface modifications or add surfactants. The coated capillaries exhibited an excellent SERS activity with a high reproducibility and enabled the detection of low concentrations of target molecules. At the same time, only a small amount of analyte and a short and simple incubation process was required. The developed platform was applied to the spectroscopic characterization of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its identification at concentration levels down to 1 nM. Thus, a highly efficient detection system for practical applications, e.g., in drug monitoring/detection, is introduced, which can be fabricated at low cost by using microwave-assisted batch synthesis techniques.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena (IPHT), Jenaer BioChip Initiative, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany; Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany; InfectoGnostics Forschungscampus Jena, Zentrum für Angewandte Forschung, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Sezin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yüksel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Almut M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Schwenke
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Soliveri
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ardizzone
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena (IPHT), Jenaer BioChip Initiative, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany; Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany; InfectoGnostics Forschungscampus Jena, Zentrum für Angewandte Forschung, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena (IPHT), Jenaer BioChip Initiative, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany; Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany; InfectoGnostics Forschungscampus Jena, Zentrum für Angewandte Forschung, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: dana.cialla-may@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cialla-May
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany. Electronic address: s.hoeppener@uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoeppener
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry (IOMC), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Humboldtstrasse 10, 07743 Jena, Germany; Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology Jena (IPHT), Jenaer BioChip Initiative, Albert-Einstein-Straße 9, 07745 Jena, Germany; Institute of Physical Chemistry and Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, 07743 Jena, Germany; InfectoGnostics Forschungscampus Jena, Zentrum für Angewandte Forschung, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany; Jena Center for Soft Matter (JCSM), Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 7, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Popp
mesh_terms: D060326:Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D057230:Limit of Detection; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves; D036103:Nanotechnology; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D013759:Dronabinol
keywords: Capillary; Drug monitoring; Microwave-assisted synthesis; SERS; THC