Dual-Mode Detection of Illicit Drugs Based on ZIF-8/Ag Core-Shell Nanomaterials

Abstract

In this study, a dual-mode sensing technique based on zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) composites is proposed to achieve visual primary screening and precise confirmation of illicit drugs by integrating the synergistic effect of colorimetric analysis and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) techniques. Ag NPs were loaded on the surface of ZIF-8 using an in situ synthesis strategy, and nanocomposites with dual enhancements of molecular enrichment and signaling were successfully constructed. The experiments showed that ZIF-8, with its high specific surface area and ordered porous structure, could efficiently adsorb illicit drug molecules. Meanwhile, Ag NPs, acting as a bifunctional active center, enabled the visual primary screening of illicit drugs via chromogenic reactions. Additionally, by utilizing the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, Ag NPs formed nanoscale SERS hotspots, enhancing Raman signals for precise trace detection.The method achieves fast and accurate identification of heroin (HER), methamphetamine (MET) and etomidate (ETO). The multimodal sensing array effectively overcomes the limitations of traditional single detection methods in terms of timeliness, sensitivity and field applicability, providing a new idea for multimodal illicit drug detection.

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
13 May 2025
Accepted
21 Jul 2025
First published
22 Jul 2025

Anal. Methods, 2025, Accepted Manuscript

Dual-Mode Detection of Illicit Drugs Based on ZIF-8/Ag Core-Shell Nanomaterials

J. Yang and S. Lei, Anal. Methods, 2025, Accepted Manuscript , DOI: 10.1039/D5AY00823A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements