As more states legalize marijuana for recreational use it is important to design a method for the faster and more accurate detection of trans-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC); this analyte is relatively water insoluble and in an aqueous environment a cyclodextrin supramolecular host will readily accept it into the nonpolar cavity. The current method of urinalysis can detect the metabolite 11-hydroxy THC for up to 60 days after exposure which is not useful for a narrower time frame of contact. A fluorescent guest host interaction with the analyte in saliva can be useful as an indicator of recent exposure to THC. Several functionalized cyclodextrin scaffolds were tested as supramolecular hosts to facilitate productive intermolecular interactions between the THC analyte and a high quantum yield fluorophore. Three separate fluorophores were used: BODIPY-C10SH, Rhodamine-6G and Coumarin-6.

Cyclodextrin supramolecular complexes for the detection of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in saliva

254th National Meeting (2017)

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