Next Article in Journal
A Low-Power PLL-Less Wideband OOK Wireless Neural-Signal Transmitter for Miniaturized Neural Interfaces with In Vivo Validation in Freely Moving Mice
Next Article in Special Issue
Asymmetric Sensitivity of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient to Portal and Sinusoidal Resistance: An In Vitro Experimental Study
Previous Article in Journal
A Superparamagnetic Platform Enhanced with Metal-Modified Carbon Dots for Rapid Dual-Modal Detection of Staphylococcus aureus
Previous Article in Special Issue
State-of-the-Art and Next Generation Intra-Articular Implantable Biosensors for Osteoarthritis: From Analytical Limits to Operational Stability
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Biosensors
Volume 16
Issue 8
10.3390/bios16080404
biosensors-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Development of a Quantum Dot-Based Immunochromatographic Assay for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Non-Medical Etomidate Abuse

by
Xin Yan
1,2,
Liwei Jiang
1,2,
Xiaolong Zhang
3,
Yizhe Zhao
1,2,
Zixin Wan
1,2,
Jun Ma
1,2,
Chunhui Song
1,2,
Yikai Wang
3,* and
Xingliang Liu
1,2,*
1
Beijing Key Laboratory of Psychoactive Substances Detection and Control, Beijing Narcotics Control Technology Center, Beijing 100164, China
2
National Narcotics Laboratory Beijing Regional Center, Beijing 100164, China
3
Science and Technology Research Center of China Customs, Beijing 100026, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biosensors 2026, 16(8), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16080404
Submission received: 11 June 2026 / Revised: 19 July 2026 / Accepted: 21 July 2026 / Published: 24 July 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosensing Technologies in Medical Diagnosis—2nd Edition)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Etomidate is an ultrashort-acting imidazole-derived intravenous anesthetic. The non-medical abuse of etomidate as a new psychoactive substance has emerged as a critical public health challenge globally, particularly among adolescents, necessitating sensitive, rapid detection methods for forensic analysis. This study developed a quantum dot-based immunochromatographic test strip and a corresponding rapid detection method for the sensitive detection of etomidate acid in urine. CdSe/ZnS fluorescent quantum dot microspheres were used as labeling probes combined with specific monoclonal antibodies, and the detection protocol utilized a portable fluorescence reader. The method’s validation demonstrated a linear range of 10–2000 ng/mL (y = −0.231lnx + 0.5241, r = −0.991), with intra-batch and inter-batch coefficients of variation below 12%. The spike recovery rates ranged from 88.24% to 95.69%. Cross-reactivity testing against 12 common drugs and structural analogs showed no interference. The detection limit of 10 ng/mL represents a substantial improvement over conventional colloidal gold strips and approaches LC-MS/MS sensitivity. Assays of real urine specimens confirmed that the immunochromatographic test strip and detection method possess favorable accuracy and reliability. This fluorescent quantum dot-based immunochromatographic assay provides rapid, quantitative, and highly specific etomidate screening suitable for on-site forensic applications, effectively bridging front-end rapid testing with confirmatory laboratory analysis.
Keywords: etomidate; rapid detection; fluorescent quantum dot microspheres; immunochromatographic test strip etomidate; rapid detection; fluorescent quantum dot microspheres; immunochromatographic test strip

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Yan, X.; Jiang, L.; Zhang, X.; Zhao, Y.; Wan, Z.; Ma, J.; Song, C.; Wang, Y.; Liu, X. Development of a Quantum Dot-Based Immunochromatographic Assay for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Non-Medical Etomidate Abuse. Biosensors 2026, 16, 404. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16080404

AMA Style

Yan X, Jiang L, Zhang X, Zhao Y, Wan Z, Ma J, Song C, Wang Y, Liu X. Development of a Quantum Dot-Based Immunochromatographic Assay for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Non-Medical Etomidate Abuse. Biosensors. 2026; 16(8):404. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16080404

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yan, Xin, Liwei Jiang, Xiaolong Zhang, Yizhe Zhao, Zixin Wan, Jun Ma, Chunhui Song, Yikai Wang, and Xingliang Liu. 2026. "Development of a Quantum Dot-Based Immunochromatographic Assay for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Non-Medical Etomidate Abuse" Biosensors 16, no. 8: 404. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16080404

APA Style

Yan, X., Jiang, L., Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Wan, Z., Ma, J., Song, C., Wang, Y., & Liu, X. (2026). Development of a Quantum Dot-Based Immunochromatographic Assay for Rapid and Sensitive Detection of Non-Medical Etomidate Abuse. Biosensors, 16(8), 404. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios16080404

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop