Periodic Reporting for period 3 - BorderSens (Border detection of illicit drugs and precursors by highly accurate electrosensors)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2023-11-30
Combining robust sensor technologies with the inherent advantages of electrochemical strategies, nano-molecularly imprinted polymers, and multivariate and pattern data analysis, BorderSens enables highly accurate selective detection of trace levels of illicit drugs and precursors. With borders being important gateways for the entrance of illicit drugs and their precursors, custom and border control authorities are facing challenges to detect such dangerous substances and safeguard the public. In the light of a pressing need for better drug test systems at EU borders, the ultimate research aim of the BorderSens project is to develop portable, wireless prototype devices with the capability to quickly test for different types of drugs, precursors and adulterants/cutting agents, with outstanding accuracy and reduced false positives and false negatives.
In general, the outcome of Bordersens device would greatly impact the “war on drugs”, since drug trafficking and abuse is of major concern in modern societies, having devastating effects on communities, families and individuals, being linked to other criminal- and terrorist activities, straining government institutions, and dragging down the wider economy. Particularly, Bordersens device facilitates the work of law enforcement officers in the borders as well as in forensic laboratories by unravelling the presence of illicit drugs in challenging samples.
In general, the outcome of Bordersens device would greatly impact the “war on drugs”, since drug trafficking and abuse is of major concern in modern societies, having devastating effects on communities, families and individuals, being linked to other criminal- and terrorist activities, straining government institutions, and dragging down the wider economy. Particularly, Bordersens device facilitates the work of law enforcement officers in the borders as well as in forensic laboratories by unravelling the presence of illicit drugs in challenging samples.
The vision to bring academic partners, companies and end-users together, has been very successful. In the beginning of the project, a survey was sent out among end-users to obtain insights in the target drugs and specifications of the prototype. From this survey, it became clear that different desires exist among the end-users, which has ultimately led to the development of three different devices.
A first device, the single sensors, targets a specific single drug, which is especially desired in situations where the presence of an expected drug needs to be confirmed. This solution works locally and prioritizes speed and (low) price. Intensive research was conducted to unravel the electrochemical behaviour of the target drugs, their cutting agents, and precursors.
A second solution, the multidrug sensor, targets multiple drugs at once in a single test. All aspects of this sensor were developed within this project, including user-friendly sampling procedure, customized hardware, customized screen-printed electrodes with nanomaterial-based electrode modification, tailor-made online platform and multivariate data analysis software. Furthermore, all these different aspects were integrated into a single, overall sensor.
The first and second solution prioritize selectivity over sensitivity, since typically plenty of sample is available for analysis in drug seizures. However, certain scenarios require sensors with an increased sensitivity (and selectivity), e.g. detection of illicit drugs in biofluids for roadside testing.
A third solution was developed specifically for this purpose, employing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs).
In terms of scientific outcomes, 32 scientific articles have been published in ISI journals, with impact factors between 2.676 and 12.296 and presented in 36 national and international events where the outcomes of the project were shown through oral presentations, posters, promotional material, workshops, etc. Furthermore, collaborations with 14 relevant stakeholders have been established. Regarding protection of IP, 18 separate knowledge output (KO) entries have been created in the knowledge management file created at the beginning of the project to ensure where the IP was generated and to thus avoid conflicts in IP distribution.
For the multidrug sensor, the UA team followed a 7-day intensive business course to develop a business model and to assess the feasibility and viability of a BorderSens spin-off. It was decided to focus on the supply reduction market as the beachhead market. The ‘razor and blades’ business model was chosen, which means that one basic product (the device including the potentiostat and connector) is sold at a reduced price (€2000) to lower the financial barrier for the customer while a complementary good (the consumable) is sold at higher margins (€12). An estimated €700.000 investment would be needed to take off. However, talks with the technical partners made clear that there is consensus that the BorderSens array is not yet ready to be commercialized. It is estimated that the TRL is around 5, which is too low for successful commercialization. Nevertheless, the technical partners agree that the technology holds high potential, and there is a clear drive to proceed with follow-up projects to bring the technology to a higher level so that it can be commercialized.
Concerning the single sensors, there are several patents owned by UA that protect the technology. Therefore, a licensing trajectory was explored since September 2021. UA will continue the efforts to find a suitable licensing partner. Currently, UA provides single sensors to interested end-users via research collaboration agreements.
For the MIP sensors, the technology is owned by ULEIC. ULEIC is not only exploring the application of the sensors for illicit drug supply reduction, but also for medical applications of amphetamine detection. ULEIC is interested in licensing technology to companies.
A first device, the single sensors, targets a specific single drug, which is especially desired in situations where the presence of an expected drug needs to be confirmed. This solution works locally and prioritizes speed and (low) price. Intensive research was conducted to unravel the electrochemical behaviour of the target drugs, their cutting agents, and precursors.
A second solution, the multidrug sensor, targets multiple drugs at once in a single test. All aspects of this sensor were developed within this project, including user-friendly sampling procedure, customized hardware, customized screen-printed electrodes with nanomaterial-based electrode modification, tailor-made online platform and multivariate data analysis software. Furthermore, all these different aspects were integrated into a single, overall sensor.
The first and second solution prioritize selectivity over sensitivity, since typically plenty of sample is available for analysis in drug seizures. However, certain scenarios require sensors with an increased sensitivity (and selectivity), e.g. detection of illicit drugs in biofluids for roadside testing.
A third solution was developed specifically for this purpose, employing molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs).
In terms of scientific outcomes, 32 scientific articles have been published in ISI journals, with impact factors between 2.676 and 12.296 and presented in 36 national and international events where the outcomes of the project were shown through oral presentations, posters, promotional material, workshops, etc. Furthermore, collaborations with 14 relevant stakeholders have been established. Regarding protection of IP, 18 separate knowledge output (KO) entries have been created in the knowledge management file created at the beginning of the project to ensure where the IP was generated and to thus avoid conflicts in IP distribution.
For the multidrug sensor, the UA team followed a 7-day intensive business course to develop a business model and to assess the feasibility and viability of a BorderSens spin-off. It was decided to focus on the supply reduction market as the beachhead market. The ‘razor and blades’ business model was chosen, which means that one basic product (the device including the potentiostat and connector) is sold at a reduced price (€2000) to lower the financial barrier for the customer while a complementary good (the consumable) is sold at higher margins (€12). An estimated €700.000 investment would be needed to take off. However, talks with the technical partners made clear that there is consensus that the BorderSens array is not yet ready to be commercialized. It is estimated that the TRL is around 5, which is too low for successful commercialization. Nevertheless, the technical partners agree that the technology holds high potential, and there is a clear drive to proceed with follow-up projects to bring the technology to a higher level so that it can be commercialized.
Concerning the single sensors, there are several patents owned by UA that protect the technology. Therefore, a licensing trajectory was explored since September 2021. UA will continue the efforts to find a suitable licensing partner. Currently, UA provides single sensors to interested end-users via research collaboration agreements.
For the MIP sensors, the technology is owned by ULEIC. ULEIC is not only exploring the application of the sensors for illicit drug supply reduction, but also for medical applications of amphetamine detection. ULEIC is interested in licensing technology to companies.
Importantly, research findings of the BorderSens project can be benefited from in the general field of electrochemical sensing. While the BorderSens project focused on illicit drug detection, these electrochemical sensing strategies can be exploited in other sensing applications as well for, e.g. doping agents, pharmaceuticals, and environmental contamination.
Demonstrations of the electrochemical sensors to end users (i.e. partners of the consortium) proved invaluable in their development. Initially, the BorderSens consortium focused on the perspective of supply reduction policies. However, over the course of the project it also entered into collaborations with harm reduction agencies. The technology has been brought to Sciensano (public entity in Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en(opens in new window)) for evaluation of the purity of ecstasy tablets with the aim of avoiding unwanted intoxications. Since the last report, a new collaboration on this topic has been started with the Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) team of the Trimbos institute (the Netherlands).
With the on-going validation studies in collaboration with NIST and the exploration of valorisation strategies, the impact of the BorderSens project will continue after its final date. As the field of illicit drug detection is showing an increased interest in the decentralisation of the forensic laboratory, our electrochemical sensors strategically position themselves as tools in this evolving field. Due to the orthogonality of electrochemistry with portable Raman and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic techniques, the sensors developed in the BorderSens project may play a significant role in the evolving forensic field. Furthermore, the field of illicit drug analysis is showing a shift towards emphasizing forensic intelligence, where drug analysis not only contributes to individual casework but to uncovering insights in drug trade and markets. Here, the SW designed for the BorderSens multi-drug sensor aligns well with this evolving trend.
Demonstrations of the electrochemical sensors to end users (i.e. partners of the consortium) proved invaluable in their development. Initially, the BorderSens consortium focused on the perspective of supply reduction policies. However, over the course of the project it also entered into collaborations with harm reduction agencies. The technology has been brought to Sciensano (public entity in Belgium, https://www.sciensano.be/en(opens in new window)) for evaluation of the purity of ecstasy tablets with the aim of avoiding unwanted intoxications. Since the last report, a new collaboration on this topic has been started with the Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) team of the Trimbos institute (the Netherlands).
With the on-going validation studies in collaboration with NIST and the exploration of valorisation strategies, the impact of the BorderSens project will continue after its final date. As the field of illicit drug detection is showing an increased interest in the decentralisation of the forensic laboratory, our electrochemical sensors strategically position themselves as tools in this evolving field. Due to the orthogonality of electrochemistry with portable Raman and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic techniques, the sensors developed in the BorderSens project may play a significant role in the evolving forensic field. Furthermore, the field of illicit drug analysis is showing a shift towards emphasizing forensic intelligence, where drug analysis not only contributes to individual casework but to uncovering insights in drug trade and markets. Here, the SW designed for the BorderSens multi-drug sensor aligns well with this evolving trend.