Paper-based nanosensors to evaluate community-wide illicit drug use for wastewater-based epidemiology

Mao, K., Yang, Z. , Zhang, H., Li, X. and Cooper, J. M. (2021) Paper-based nanosensors to evaluate community-wide illicit drug use for wastewater-based epidemiology. Water Research, 189, 116559. (doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116559) (PMID:33161329)

[img] Text
226106.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

2MB

Abstract

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a powerful technique for monitoring illicit drugs of abuse in the community. Here, we report upon a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) sensor for the sensitive and selective detection of methamphetamine based upon the assembly of noble metal core-shell nanoparticles on a bespoke glassy nanofibrous electrospun paper matrix. The hierarchical structure of the fibrous paper, modified with the synthesized Au@Ag core-shells (Au@Ag) gave strong SERS signalling, enabling us to evaluate the community-wide prevalence of methamphetamine in wastewater treatment plants within Beijing. We show that, when normalized for the daily flow of the wastewater treatment plants and for population density, higher mass loads of drugs are generally found in sewage influent from urban areas, implying greater local methamphetamine usage than that in less populated areas. The user-friendly and disposable paper sensors demonstrate the applicability of rapid on-site illicit drug detection, illustrating the application to wastewater-based epidemiology, which has the potential to inform government agencies regarding societal interventions.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Mao, Kang and Cooper, Professor Jonathan and Yang, Dr Zhugen
Authors: Mao, K., Yang, Z., Zhang, H., Li, X., and Cooper, J. M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Biomedical Engineering
Journal Name:Water Research
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0043-1354
ISSN (Online):1879-2448
Published Online:23 October 2020
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 The Authors
First Published:First published in Water Research 189: 116559
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License
Data DOI:10.17862/cranfield.rd.13173251

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
301913Lab-on-a-Paper for Point-of-Care Microbial Source TrackingZhugen YangNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/R013349/1ENG - Biomedical Engineering
300573Novel low cost diagnostic tools and their impact in AfricaJonathan CooperEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)EP/R01437X/1ENG - Biomedical Engineering