A rapid and portable drug detection device using bio-nanotechnology

My research team is currently working on a DNA-based biosensor for detecting drugs in saliva and blood. We’re talking about legal drugs, like cannabis, but also illicit drugs like opioids, amphetamines and methamphetamines. This biosensor can detect and quantify the amount of these drugs in about two minutes.

This drug detection device is intended for anyone who requires information on drug consumption for safety and wellness reasons—for example, police officers who have to test a driver suspected of being drug-impaired, emergency room doctors who need to know the level of a drug in a patient’s blood right away, and even individuals who want to monitor their own drug consumption at home. At first it will be used in health and public safety settings, but we eventually want to make it available to a broader public.

Our inspiration was the glucometer, a simple and inexpensive device that diabetics use to monitor their blood sugar levels. We have adapted this device, most notably by adding a DNA-based method of detection.

Simply put, we use the formation of DNA double helices to detect the presence of drugs and then quantify the amount. First, a few drops of the person’s saliva or blood are placed on the device. If the drug is present, DNA double helices will form, which in turn triggers an electrical current. It’s a simple chain reaction, and the higher the concentration of the drug, the more DNA double helices form and the stronger the electrical current. Thus the variation in electrical current gives us a precise measurement of the quantity of drug in the saliva or blood sample.

The big advantage is ease of use—our device is fast, portable and digital. It digitizes the electrical signal produced when the drug is detected and gives a reading much faster than other devices currently available on the market.

These other devices are more like rapid COVID-19 tests. They involve several steps and you have to wait 10 to 12 minutes to see a positive or negative result, which is not quantitative. By contrast, our device gives a numerical reading in about two minutes that is automatically sent to a tablet or smart phone. This technology really simplifies the process for users.

We know the science behind our technology is sound because we have demonstrated that it works well in the lab, but the grant will enable us to create a prototype that we can test in the real world. Traditional research grants don’t cover this step, which is why this new funding program created by the Quebec government and Axelys is so important. It helps discoveries make it out of the university lab and into the real world, where they can benefit society by improving our daily lives and the health of people around the world.