# US 12,181,411 B2 · Detection method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,411 B2 - Document ID: US12181411B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/940,276 - Filed: 2022-09-08 - Published: 2023-02-09 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-26 - Assignees: The University of Queensland - Applicants: The University of Queensland - Inventors: Paul Leslie Burn; Paul Edward Shaw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181411B2 ## CPC - G01N 21/6428: {Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" (in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53)} - C07D 285/14: condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems - C09K 11/06: containing organic luminescent materials - G01N 21/85: Investigating moving fluids or granular solids - G01N 33/542: with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching - G01N 33/94: involving narcotics {or drugs or pharmaceuticals, neurotransmitters or associated receptors} - C09K 2211/1018: Heterocyclic compounds - G01N 2021/6432: {Quenching} - G01N 2021/8578: {Gaseous flow} - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) - C07D: HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (macromolecular compounds C08) - C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE ## Abstract The present invention relates to an optical sensing element for detection of a narcotic, the optical sensing element comprising a fluorescent sensing compound provided on a substrate, wherein emission of the fluorescent sensing compound is quenched in the presence of the narcotic, and wherein the fluorescent sensing compound is non-polymeric and comprises an electron donor moiety, an electron acceptor moiety and a moiety that influences solubility of the compound in a solvent. Sensing devices incorporating the sensing element and methods of detecting narcotics are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical sensing element for detection of a narcotic, the optical sensing element comprising a fluorescent sensing compound provided on a substrate, wherein emission of the fluorescent sensing compound is quenched in the presence of the narcotic, and wherein the fluorescent sensing compound is non-polymeric and is represented by general formula (IA): AaBbCcDdEe (IA) in which: A comprises one or more of fluorenyl, bisfluorenyl, phenyl, thiophenyl, and terphenyl; B is an electron acceptor moiety; C is a moiety that influences solubility of the compound in a solvent; D is a modifier moiety that enables fine tuning of the optoelectronic properties of the sensing compound; E is a branching moiety; a is an integer of 1 or more; b is an integer of 1 or more; c is an integer of 1 or more; d is an integer of 0 to less than or equal to b; and e is 0 or 1. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical sensing element of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent sensing compound comprises: Fluorescent Sensing Compound (free base) Code AL03-116 AL03-96 AL03-35 K123.4 AL-4-09 JED or an acid addition salt thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical sensing element according to claim 1, wherein the element is for vapour phase detection. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical sensing element according to claim 1, wherein the element is for solution phase detection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical sensing element according to claim 1, wherein the emission of the fluorescent sensing compound is increased when the narcotic is removed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method for detection of a narcotic in a sample, which method comprises: (a) irradiating an optical sensing element as defined in claim 1 thereby causing fluorescent emission by the fluorescent sensing compound; (b) contacting the sample with the optical sensing element; (c) measuring the luminescence of the fluorescent optical sensing element after contacting with the sample; and (d) determining whether the narcotic is present in the sample based on the measurement obtained in step (c). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A sensing device for detection of a narcotic in a sample, the sensing device comprising: an optical sensing element as defined in claim 1; an irradiation source for irradiating the optical sensing element with stimulating radiation; a detector for measuring luminescence of the optical sensing element; and means for delivering the sample for contacting with the optical sensing element. ### Claim 8 An optical sensing element for detection of a narcotic, the optical sensing element comprising a fluorescent sensing compound provided on a substrate, wherein emission of the fluorescent sensing compound is quenched in the presence of the narcotic, and wherein the fluorescent sensing compound is non-polymeric and is represented by general formula (IA): AaBbCcDdEe (IA) in which: A is an electron donor moiety; B comprises one or more of benzothiadiazolyl, benzoxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, triazinyl, imidazolyl, pyridinyl and quinoxalinyl; C is a moiety that influences solubility of the compound in a solvent; D is a modifier moiety that enables fine tuning of the optoelectronic properties of the sensing compound; E is a branching moiety; a is an integer of 1 or more; b is an integer of 1 or more; c is an integer of 1 or more; d is an integer of 0 to less than or equal to b; and e is 0 or 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The optical sensing element according to claim 8, wherein the element is for vapour phase detection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The optical sensing element according to claim 8, wherein the element is for solution phase detection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The optical sensing element according to claim 8, wherein the emission of the fluorescent sensing compound is increased when the narcotic is removed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) A method for detection of a narcotic in a sample, which method comprises: (a) irradiating an optical sensing element as defined in claim 8 thereby causing fluorescent emission by the fluorescent sensing compound; (b) contacting the sample with the optical sensing element; (c) measuring the luminescence of the fluorescent optical sensing element after contacting with the sample; and (d) determining whether the narcotic is present in the sample based on the measurement obtained in step (c). ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) A sensing device for detection of a narcotic in a sample, the sensing device comprising: an optical sensing element as defined in claim 8; an irradiation source for irradiating the optical sensing element with stimulating radiation; a detector for measuring luminescence of the optical sensing element; and means for delivering the sample for contacting with the optical sensing element. ### Claim 14 An optical sensing element for detection of a narcotic, the optical sensing element comprising a fluorescent sensing compound provided on a substrate, wherein emission of the fluorescent sensing compound is quenched in the presence of the narcotic, and wherein the fluorescent sensing compound is non-polymeric and is represented by general formula (IA): AaBbCcDdEe (IA) in which: A is an electron donor moiety; B is an electron acceptor moiety; C is a moiety that influences solubility of the compound in a solvent; D comprises one or more of Rhodanine, a vinyl cyano ester, and a vinyl dicyano vinyl diester; E is a branching moiety; a is an integer of 1 or more; b is an integer of 1 or more; c is an integer of 1 or more; d is an integer of 0 to less than or equal to b; and e is 0 or 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The optical sensing element according to claim 14, wherein the element is for vapour phase detection. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The optical sensing element according to claim 14, wherein the element is for solution phase detection. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The optical sensing element according to claim 14, wherein the emission of the fluorescent sensing compound is increased when the narcotic is removed. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A method for detection of a narcotic in a sample, which method comprises: (a) irradiating an optical sensing element as defined in claim 14 thereby causing fluorescent emission by the fluorescent sensing compound; (b) contacting the sample with the optical sensing element; (c) measuring the luminescence of the fluorescent optical sensing element after contacting with the sample; and (d) determining whether the narcotic is present in the sample based on the measurement obtained in step (c). ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) A sensing device for detection of a narcotic in a sample, the sensing device comprising: an optical sensing element as defined in claim 14; an irradiation source for irradiating the optical sensing element with stimulating radiation; a detector for measuring luminescence of the optical sensing element; and means for delivering the sample for contacting with the optical sensing element.