Portable device instantly reveals composition of adulterated drugs

The prototype device, developed at Bath University and currently in trials in the UK, Norway and New Zealand, can identify substances such as benzodiazepines and synthetic opioids that are difficult to detect with existing mobile technologies.

Similar to an ultraviolet spectrometer, the device will allow drugs to be tested cheaply and at volume. Its on-the-spot analysis reveals the contents of a substance and the concentration of each ingredient.

The device works through a combination of fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopies and is trained using a deep-learning algorithm, exposing it to a library of Nanoparticle Spectroscopy (NPS) light patterns from which it learns to make accurate identifications. The technology is described in Analytical Chemistry.

Team leader, Bath’s Professor Chris Pudney, said the potential life-saving benefits of this invention are considerable. By using the device to reveal the precise composition of an illicit substance, the risks associated with taking unknown or adulterated drugs can be reduced.

Professor Pudney envisions the new machine being deployed in areas where illicit drugs are commonly used, such as nightclubs and festivals, as well as in services that provide support and treatment for dependent drug users.