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Cavitand‐Grafted Silicon Microcantilevers as a Universal Probe for Illicit and Designer Drugs in Water
Author(s) -
Biavardi Elisa,
Federici Stefania,
Tudisco Cristina,
Menozzi Daniela,
Massera Chiara,
Sottini Andrea,
Condorelli Guglielmo G.,
Bergese Paolo,
Dalcanale Enrico
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201404774
Subject(s) - cavitand , molecular recognition , silicon , robustness (evolution) , nanotechnology , fidelity , combinatorial chemistry , chemistry , supramolecular chemistry , materials science , computer science , molecule , organic chemistry , biochemistry , telecommunications , gene
Abstract The direct, clean, and unbiased transduction of molecular recognition into a readable and reproducible response is the biggest challenge associated to the use of synthetic receptors in sensing. All possible solutions demand the mastering of molecular recognition at the solid–liquid interface as prerequisite. The socially relevant issue of screening amine‐based illicit and designer drugs is addressed by nanomechanical recognition at the silicon–water interface. The methylamino moieties of different drugs are all first recognized by a single cavitand receptor through a synergistic set of weak interactions. The peculiar recognition ability of the cavitand is then transferred with high fidelity and robustness on silicon microcantilevers and harnessed to realize a nanomechanical device for label‐free detection of these drugs in water.