Chapter 49

Detection of GHB by Optical Methods

Wang Xu1,2, Duanting Zhai1, Young-Tae Chang1,3
1Department of Chemistry & MedChem Program of Life Sciences Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore; 2Singapore Peking Oxford
Research Enterprise (SPORE), NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), Singapore; 3Singapore Bioimaging Consortium, Agency for Science,
Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore

Abbreviations even death (Ropero-Miller & Goldberger, 1998). It was banned

for sale as a supplement in the United States by the FDA in 1990,
AO  Acridine orange and subsequently classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the Controlled
CNS  Central nervous system Substances Act in March 2000. The only remaining medical appli-
DFSA  Drug-facilitated sexual assault cation of GHB in the current time is the treatment of narcolepsy
DMSO  Dimethyl sulfoxide and alcoholism.
GABA  Gamma-aminobutyric acid Since the mid-1990s, GHB has been labeled with a notorious
GBL  Gamma-butyrolactone name—date rape drug—due to its intense usage in drug-facili-
GC  Gas chromatography tated sexual assault (DFSA). As a supplement or drug, GHB is
GHB  Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid most commonly used in the form of salt such as sodium GHB
HPLC  High-performance liquid chromatography or potassium GHB, both of which are white crystalline pow-
IR  Infrared spectroscopy der; or it can be treated as clear aqueous solution of GHB salt.
MB  Methylene blue GHB is sold on the streets under many names, such as G, Liq-
MS  Mass spectrometry uid X, Liquid E, Liquid G, Salty Water, Fantasy or Juice, Mils,
NMR  Nuclear magnetic resonance Scoop or Soap, Liquid Ecstasy, etc. Apart from GHB itself, its
OX  Oxonine prodrugs such as gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) (Figure 1) and
PET  Photoinduced electron transfer 1,4-butanediol have also been deemed as date rape drugs (Mason
PF  Proflavine & Kerns, 2002). GBL and 1,4-butanediol are intrinsically inac-
PYY  Pyronine Y tive under the pharmacological condition; however, they can be
RGB  Red–green–blue easily metabolized to GHB inside the human body (Lettieri &
TH  Thionine Fung, 1978). This brings additional concerns with these prodrugs
because they are widely used as industrial solvents and legiti-
mate chemical reagents (Shannon & Quang, 2000). GHB can
INTRODUCTION be easily prepared even with very little knowledge of chemistry.
Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) (Figure 1) is a naturally The preparation involves simple mixing of two precursors, GBL
occurring substance found in small amounts in almost all living and sodium/potassium hydroxide, to form the resulting GHB
species, residing in their central nervous system (CNS) (Bessman & salt. Due to the ready availability of its precursors and simple
Fishbein, 1963). As a metabolite of gamma-aminobutyric acid one-step chemistry, manufacturing GHB can even be carried out
(GABA), GHB is involved in the regulation of multiple neurotrans- in a home laboratory. Small amounts of GHB (less than 1 g to a
mitters, including GABA, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and normal human) act as a relaxant that causes loss of muscle tone
acetylcholine (Mamelak, 1989). GHB depresses the CNS through and reduced inhibitions. At scales larger than 1 g, GHB slows
the induction of reversible coma and deep sleep; therefore, it down heart rate and respiration (1–2 g to a normal human) or
was first medically introduced in 1960 as a general anesthetic interferes with motor and speech control which induces a coma-
(Galloway et al., 1997). Subsequently, GHB was further applied like sleep (2–4 g to a normal human), or ultimately leads to death
to a variety of purposes, including fat reduction and muscle devel- (larger than 4 g to a normal human) (Lesar, Decatur, Lukasiewicz, &
opment, improvement of athletic performance, and treatment Champeil, 2011; Sumnall et al., 2008). GHB takes effect within
of sleep disorders and depression (Sumnall, Woolfall, Edwards, 15–30 min and could last as long as 3–6 h. It can only be
Cole, & Beynon, 2008). However, GHB can induce negative detected in urine samples within a period of 6–12 h after inges-
phenomena at higher doses or together with alcohol. Adverse effects tion (Brailsford, Cowan, & Kicman, 2012), yet unfortunately
include visual disturbance, memory impairment, respiratory arrest GHB-induced memory impairment often elongates the time that
and nausea, vomit, dizziness and drowsiness, amnesia, coma, or many victims need to recall the scene of rape. What is worse is

Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse, Volume 2. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-800212-4.00049-2

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 529
530  PART | II  Club Drugs
FIGURE 1  Structures and chemistry of GHB and GBL. Structures of
GHB and GBL. Chemical and Biological formation from GBL to GHB.
that given GHB’s odorless and colorless physical properties, it
is practically undetectable when mixed with an alcoholic drink.
Hence, as a result, due to ready availability, fast elimination after
ingestion, colorless and odorless properties, and good solubil-
ity in aqueous/alcoholic solutions, GHB is deemed as the most
notorious date rape drug desirable to sexual predators (Nemeth,
Kun, & Demetrovics, 2010).
Traditionally, GHB detection was solely based on complicated
laboratory instruments and usually requires a series of preparation
steps. Typical examples include tandem gas chromatography (GC)
separation and mass spectrometry (MS) detection, which requires
acidification of blood samples of victims with 0.1 N H2SO4, subse-
quent extraction with ethyl acetate, followed by injection into the
instrument (McCusker, Paget-Wilkes, Chronister, & Goldberger,
1999). Diethylene glycol was often used as an internal standard.
GHB was derivatized to its trimethyl silane derivative using N,O-
Bistrifluoroacetamide/1% trimethylsilyl chloride. This assay
method exhibits a detection limit of 1 mg/l (Couper & Lorgan,
2004). On the other hand, a high-performance liquid chromatogra-
phy (HPLC)-based method has been reported for GHB detection.
Samples were separated through reverse phase HPLC and detected
using ultraviolet (UV) detection at 215 nm. Confirmation of GHB
species was given by thermospray MS (Ciolino et al., 2001). Simi-
larly, infrared spectroscopy (IR) has also been used to detect GHB;
yet it only delivers qualification data instead of quantitative results.
Given the instruments required in the detection process, all the
methods stated above can only be performed in analytical laborato-
ries with well-trained personnel, i.e., in the case of forensic samples
of presumed victims where tragedies have already taken place. As a
matter of fact, the rapid increase of GHB involved in DFSA crime
cases seriously calls for a rapid and convenient field testing method
that facilitates the detection of GHB before ingestion.
Recent efforts on rapid GHB detection by both research insti-
tutes and companies have seen the hope of its on-field diagnostics.
Garcia et al. reported a colorimetric sensor array for the detection of
GHB based on supramolecular host–guest complexes of fluorescent
dyes with organic capsules (Baumes, Buaki Sogo, Montes-Navajas,
Corma, & Garcia, 2010). Chang et al. reported the first fluores-
cent sensor for the prodrug GBL in 2013 (Zhai et al., 2013) and
subsequently they developed the first fluorescent sensor for GHB
itself (Zhai, Tan, Xu, & Chang, 2014), both of which were based on
BODIPY structure. On the other hand, commercial products were
also developed and launched into the market, such as “DrinkSafe™”
cards, “DrinkSafe™” coasters, and “Drink Detective™” test kits
from Drink Safe Technology®, Scott kit from Scott Company®, and
EZ Test kit for GHB from EZ Test Kits®. In this chapter, we will
summarize all the currently available assay sensors for GHB/GBL
and elucidate their sensing modes. We sincerely hope that this will
inspire following work on the rapid detection of date rape drugs and
finally prevent its usage in DFSA cases.
A COLORIMETRIC SENSOR ARRAY
FOR THE DETECTION OF GHB
In supramolecular approach, host–guest interaction is favored to
achieve molecular recognition especially for small-molecule ana-
lytes. Baumes et al. (2010) developed a dual-response colorimet-
ric/fluorometric sensor array for the detection of GHB based on
supramolecular host–guest complexes by combining six fluores-
cent dyes as guests and two cucurbiturils as hosts (Figure 2). In
this approach, multiwell plates were prefilled with capsule solu-
tions and dye solutions. After addition of the GHB aqueous solu-
tion, images of the plate were taken using a dark chamber with a
set of UV (355 nm) lamps and transferred to a personal computer
(PC) to extract the red–green–blue (RGB) components. The values
of these RGB components were thus analyzed to render quantita-
tive values of GHB concentrations. Through this assay, researchers
were able to detect the presence of GHB of concentrations above
100 μM. Further selectivity test of the sensor concluded a discrimi-
nation of GHB against a series of related compounds, including
GBL, 1,4-butanediol, propionic acid, and butyric acid. Mecha-
nism studies have revealed that the response arises from the color
changes depending on dye aggregation and solvatochromism.
To facilitate the usage of this GHB assay sensor, we hereby
summarize the protocol of this sensor array as listed below.
Materials:
Fluorescent dyes (386 μM): methylene blue (MB), t­hionine
(TH), oxonine (OX), pyronine Y (PYY), acridine orange (AO),
and proflavine (PF).
Capsules (100 μM): CB[7] and CB[8].
Protocol:
1. Fill each well of the multiwell plates with 239 μl of ­capsule
solution plus 70 μl of dye solution.
2. Add 30 μM of GHB solution in water to each well.
3. Transferred plates to a dark chamber and illuminate with
white light or UV lamps (355 nm).
4. Take images with a 6.1 megapixel CCD Nikon D50
camera.
5. Transfer images were transferred to a PC to digitalize the
image, extract, and store the RGB component.
A FLUORESCENT SENSOR FOR
THE DETECTION OF GHB
Fluorescent sensors are attractive sensing tools owing to their
high sensitivity, fast response, and technical simplicity. Zhai
et al. (2014) reported the first fluorescent sensor for the illicit
date rape drug GHB (Figure 3). In Prof. Young-Tae Chang’s
group, a series of diversity-oriented fluorescent libraries have
been designed and synthesized, which contain thousands of fluo-
rescent dyes. Through an image-based high-throughput screen-
ing platform using 5500 fluorescent compounds, the authors
identified a BODIPY structure, GHB Orange (Figure 3(A)), as
the first small molecule GHB fluorescent sensor. GHB Orange

FIGURE 2  Supramolecular GHB detection paradigm. Images of a plate in the absence of analyte taken under white light or monochromatic UV
(355 nm) light. Left: original image; right: digitalized image. Two views of CB[7] capsule are shown on the top right. Adapted with permission from
Baumes et al. (2010). Copyright 2000 Wiley-VCH.
showed a fluorescent quenching response in the presence of GHB
(Figure 3(B)). With addition of GHB, the intrinsic bright orange
fluorescent color could be quenched dramatically to a dark state.
Proper optimization of the sensing event was also conducted by
the researchers and the working condition was confirmed to be
50% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) aqueous solution with a 5.5-
fold fluorescence decrease at 10 mg/ml GHB, which is the nor-
mal GHB spiking amount. More importantly, GHB Orange was
further applied to test GHB in a large variety of beverages rep-
resenting alcoholic, nonalcoholic, colored, and colorless drinks.
The detection process was optimized as a simple mix-and-see
procedure. Explicit intensity change was observed under the irra-
diation of a handheld 365 nm lamp (Figure 3(D)). This is a clear
sign of application possibility because 365 nm UV light is readily
available in most of the bars where DFSA takes place. Thus one
plausible usage of the sensor was to develop it into nail polish
or similar styles of carriable stuff that one can readily apply to
drink testing.
Assay Sensor for GHB Chapter | 49  531
In this work, the interaction mechanism between GHB
Orange and GHB was explored by nuclear magnetic resonance
(NMR) spectroscopy, which showed that protons in GHB Orange
shifted up-field upon increasing equivalents of GHB. This indi-
cated the formation of a hydrogen bond between GHB Orange and
GHB, which enhanced photo-induced electron transfer effect of
the fluorophore and quenched its fluorescence.
A protocol of this sensor is listed below.
Materials:
GHB Orange DMSO solution (100 μM)
Protocol:
1. Mix the GHB Orange solution with GHB analyte
­solution in a 1:1 ratio by volume.
2. Visualize the mixture with a 365 nm UV lamp or green
laser.
532  PART | II  Club Drugs

(A) (C) 10000 8

control
N N 9000 6

Fluorescence Intensity RFU

B

FO/ F
F F 4 3 mg/mL
8000
y = 0.063x + 1 5 mg/mL
DMSO,ΦF 0.86 7000 2
R2 = 0.976
Br λabs max 564 nm 0 10 mg/mL
6000
λflu max 587 nm 0 20 40 60 80 100
HO GHB Orange 5000 25 mg/mL
GHB Concentration / mg/mL
4000 50 mg/mL
(B) without with 3000 100 mg/mL
GHB GHB 2000
1000
0
560 580 600 620 640
(D) Wavelength / nm
water beer red wine vodca cola Korean soju apple juice whiskey

FIGURE 3  The sensing paradigm of GHB Orange and fluorescence responses. (A) Structure of GHB Orange. (B) Picture of GHB Orange solution
with and without GHB taken from the screening camera box. (C) Fluorescent spectra of GHB Orange after incubation with different concentrations of
GHB (inner). Linear correlation of fold change of fluorescence versus concentration of GHB. (D) Pictures of beverage samples with (right) and without
(left) GHB containing GHB Orange under irradiation using a handheld 365 nm lamp. Adapted with permission from Zhai et al. (2014). Copyright 2014
Royal Society of Chemistry.

COMMERCIAL KITS FOR THE DETECTION
OF GHB
There is an increasing public awareness and attention to DFSA.
Fear of DFSA has generated a growing market for products that
claim to be able to reduce potential victims’ vulnerability. These
products allow customers to do in vitro field test for beverages
suspected of being drugged.
matrix, high concentration of the drugs required, and extensive
time required for ketamine analysis (Meyers & Almirall, 2004).
Studies also showed that this product performed much better in
the laboratory than it did in the untrained hands of consumers
in the field. In fact, there is a possibility that consumers would
misinterpret a result and record a false-negative outcome (Quest
& Horsley, 2007).

Drink Safe Coaster
Drink Safe Technology (http://www.drinksafetech.com/) is the
best-known company launching products detecting GHB. Their
product, Drink Safe Coaster (http://store.drinksafetech.com/
categories/), is an inexpensive color change test kit marketed
internationally for customs to detect potentially incapacitating
concentrations of GHB (complexed with either sodium or potas-
sium ion) and another date rape drug, ketamine. Until now, mil-
lions of such coasters have been sold, which indicates the huge
market size. In the test, customers were directed to place one
drop of beverage onto both spots of one test area, rub each spot
gently, and allow it to dry. If dark blue showed in either spot,
it indicated detection of a possible date rape drug. However,
some beverages are not recommended for testing, including
milk products, very acidic beverages, oily liquors, or any drinks
containing quinine. Research was conducted to study the effec-
tiveness of Drink Safe Coaster, which revealed that although
Drink Safe Coaster was able to detect the presence of GHB and
ketamine, there were a series of limitations. Examples ranged
from hindrance of the reaction due to complicated beverage
EZ Test Kits
EZ Test Kits is a company founded in the United Kingdom,
which sells test kits specifically for GHB (http://www.eztestkits.
com/en/ez-testing-kits/ghb-drug-testing-kit). The test kit uses
a chemical reagent absorbed in silica gel that is held inside a
glass ampoule. During the test, consumers were instructed to
crack open the ampoule and drip in a small amount of the sam-
ple. They then put the plastic lid on and shook it well to allow
full reaction between the reagent and GHB. A color change took
place if GHB was present in the sample. The customers could
thus compare the changed color with the color chart provided
on the instructions within the package. This product, however,
has shown several disadvantages including complicated handling
process and a merely presumptive test result, as claimed by the
inventors themselves.
Scott Kit
Scott Company has introduced a chemical colorimetric test for
GHB (http://www.scottcompany.com/∼shop/ghb-test/259375/).
During the test, a cotton bud is soaked in the GHB sample and

then placed in a small vial containing their chemical reagents.
Should the drink contain GHB, the color changes from yellow
to brown, which is derived from a ferric chloride reagent. How-
ever, this test lacks sensitivity as analysis of a series of GHB
amounts using Scott Kit demonstrates that concentration as high
as 300 mM GHB only gives a weak positive test, yet this amount
of GHB is enough to cause death. Normal GHB amounts within
a cup of drink only give negative result with Scott Kit (Parsons,
Harris, & Bravo, 2004).
A FLUORESCENT SENSOR FOR THE
PRODRUG OF GHB–GBL
GBL is a pharmacologically inactive compound. However, it is
easily metabolized to GHB in blood stream and stomach in the
presence of peripheral lactonases. Therefore, GHB and GBL
have similar psychopharmacological effects after ingestion. Due
to its wide usage and easy accessibility as an industrial solvent
and a chemical reagent, sexual predators have turned to GBL
as a result of the much more stringent regulations on GHB.
Compared with GHB, GBL has higher bioavailability due to the
fact that it is more lipophilic and can be absorbed through oral
administration more rapidly (Palatini et al., 1993). In view of
its adverse effects as a date rape drug, Zhai et al. (2013) devel-
oped the first fluorescent sensor for GBL. Similar to the GHB
sensor, the researchers screened thousands of fluorescent dyes
generated from a large variety of fluorescent scaffolds. The
high-throughput screening followed an image-based process
with the pictures of the fluorescent probes taken before and after
addition of GBL (Figure 4(D)). Researchers could then compare
the observed fluorescence intensities of the images and identify
the probes that exhibit clear differences. With such a method,
one compound named Green Date (Figure 4(A)) was selected
as the final GBL fluorescent sensor. Upon excitation using
530 nm green light, Green Date emits an orange fluorescence
when interacting with GBL. Because the GBL detection limit of
Green Date (3 mg/ml) in water is above the allowed amount in
drinks (Figure 4(B)), an extraction method that can help remove
the interfering components and preconcentrate GBL was devel-
oped by the researchers in order to construct a visual detection
kit of GBL. As a brief introduction, a certain amount of drink
samples was extracted with same volume of dichloromethane.
The organic layer was collected, dried, and resuspended in a
small portion of Green Date aqueous solution (50 μM) prepared
beforehand. After mixing, the fluorescence could be readily
visualized with a green laser pointer. If samples do not contain
GBL, green light can pass through the clear sample solution and
customers observe a green color; when the drink samples con-
tain GBL, orange fluorescence will be clearly seen and caution
has to be taken.
The mechanism of the interaction between GBL and Green
Date was further explored by dynamic light scattering and 19F
NMR experiments. It was proved that Green Date molecules
stacked together and formed aggregates in aqueous solution
to minimize contact with water, and hence their fluorescence
is diminished (aggregation caused quenching). With increas-
ing amounts of GBL which is relatively more hydrophobic than
water molecules, they could enter the stacked aggregates of Green
Assay Sensor for GHB Chapter | 49  533
Date, thus reducing the static quenching effect of Green Date and
restore the fluorescence (Figure 4(C)).
A protocol of this sensor is listed below.
Materials:
Green Date aqueous solution (50 μM), dichloromethane.
Protocol:
1. Add 2 ml of dichloromethane to 2 ml GHB analyte
­solution.
2. Shake the mixture well.
3. Wait until two layers separate and collect the downside
organic layer.
4. Dry the organic layer under reduced pressure.
5. After drying, add 100 μl Green Date solution and mix
well.
6. Visualize with green laser.
CONCLUSION
There is no doubt that the involvement of GHB and some other
date rape drugs in sexual assaults is becoming a serious social
problem. Since their first introduction in 1960, GHB’s fate has
been changed from a medicine that heals patients to a notori-
ous date rape drug that brings nothing more than pain and loss.
Although the legal status of GHB has become harsher than before,
it is still a popular date rape drug for sexual predators due to the
easy availability of its precursors. Therefore, the necessity to
detect GHB in the body fluids of presumed victims and test kits
that could conduct multisample field tests prior to ingestion has
dramatically increased. Over the past 20 years significant efforts
have been made to develop useful tools for the practical and rapid
detection of GHB. However, the number of such tools is still lim-
ited whereas their properties in terms of efficiency and selectivity
are not satisfying. We hope with this discussion of currently avail-
able GHB detection methods, new sensing tools could be designed
with improved methodology and performances. It should be noted
that such sensing tools cannot only help to prevent DFSA but will
also assist in understanding GHB-related neural activities.
APPLICATIONS TO OTHER ADDICTIONS
AND SUBSTANCE MISUSE
GHB and GBL are key CNS depressants that exist in almost all liv-
ing bodies but their neural functions still remain blurred. Unravel-
ing these mysteries could help to understand the most fundamental
aspects of brain activity. On the other hand, optical methods pro-
vide a feasible and convenient way to detect these species not only
within the range of cells and tissues but also in vivo. Thus optical
detection of GHB and GBL should enlighten the biological studies
of these neurodepressants. Furthermore, among the various neuro-
logical species, GHB and GBL are especially difficult to design
sensors due to their simplified structure and lack of response sites.
However, with the help of a diversity-oriented fluorescent library
approach, for the first time, researchers could successfully develop
fluorescent sensors for these species. It should encourage and
inspire the practitioners who are exploring this field.
534  PART | II  Club Drugs

FIGURE 4  Fluorescence detection of GBL using Green Date. (A) Structure of Green Date. (B) Fluorescent spectra of Green Date after incubation
with different concentrations of GBL (inner). Linear correlation of fold change in fluorescence versus concentration of GBL. (C) Schematic explanation
of the proposed mechanism of interaction between Green Date and GBL (star: Green Date molecule; black ball: GBL molecule). (D) Schematic work
flow of screening platform in GBL sensor development. Adapted with permission from Zhai et al. (2013). Copyright 2013, Royal Society of Chemistry.

DEFINITION OF TERMS Drug-facilitated sexual assault  Predatory rape is a sexual assault

GHB  It is a very common natural substance existing in the CNS of
almost all animals. It is also widely spread in wine, citrus fruits,
and beef. GHB is now most notorious as a date rape drug and is
currently strictly regulated in the USA, Canada, Australia and New
Zealand, and the majority of Europe. GHB functions through the
interaction with GHB receptor and induces nausea, dizziness, and
unconsciousness.
GBL  It is a colorless liquid with hygroscopic properties. It is miscible
with water and naturally exists in wine as a result of processing,
though in very tiny amounts. In the human body, GBL reacts with lac-
tonase and forms GHB. Therefore, it is deemed as a prodrug of GHB.
Colorimetric assay  In analytical chemistry, colorimetry is a technique
to determine the amount of colored substances, and colorimetric
assays thus use the amount of colored substances to determine the
existence or amount of analytes. The assay method has evolved from
direct observation to absorbance measurement and now to extrac-
tion of RGB values, which provides the option of high-throughput
processing of multiple reactions.
Fluorescent sensor  Fluorescence indicates a process of electromag-
netic wave absorption, relaxation, and longer wavelength light emis-
sion. Fluorescent sensors could exhibit emission change—either
intensity or wavelength—upon interaction with the analyte. This
approach usually provides high sensitivity and large response range.
Dynamic light scattering  It is a physical approach to determine the
size distribution profile of particle suspension or polymer solutions.
Rayleigh scattering happens when a beam of light hits small parti-
cles. By detecting the scattered photons and correlate their intensity
fluctuations, knowledge of their size and amount could be calcu-
lated and collected.
on one person through the usage of date rape drugs or alcohols.
Usually the victim is incapacitated by intentionally administered
drugs. Unlike physical violence or other rape, DFSA is a crime of
sexual entitlement.
KEY FACTS OF GHB AND GBL OPTICAL
SENSORS
l 
Optical methods to detect date rape drugs have revealed not
only social impacts but also biomedical implications.
l DFSA is mostly likely to occur in bars or similar recreational
places, where UV lamps are normally equipped for entertain-
ment purposes. Thus fluorescent probes for DFSA that can be
excited by UV light should be conveniently applied in such
places.
l Fluorescent sensors for GHB is especially important to under-
stand its neurological functions in living animals.
l Optical methods could potentially be a robust and noninvasive
bioimaging approach to study small molecule neurotransmitters.
l The first fluorescent sensors for GHB and GBL have proven
their application in various drinks.
SUMMARY POINTS
l This chapter summarizes all the available optical methods for
sensing common date rape drugs including GHB and GBL.
l The detection of GHB and GBL and other date rape drugs is
sociologically and biologically crucial.

l Optical detection, especially fluorescence sensing of GHB, is
difficult due to its lack of responding site.
l Supramolecular colorimetric assay provides a potential way
to detect GHB, with the help of computer software to extract
RGB values.
l The diversity-oriented fluorescent library approach is a highly
feasible method to find fluorescent sensors for small molecule
neurotransmitters and depressants.
l The use of hydrogen bond and disaggregation-induced emis-
sion could facilitate sensor discovery for GHB and GBL.
l Green Date and GHB Orange are both applicable to various
drinks. The next step would be optimizing these sensors and
developing them into product version.
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