Chromogenic and fluorogenic reagents for chemical warfare nerve agents' detection

Abstract

The ease of production, the extreme toxicity of organophosphorus-containing nerve agents, and their facile use in terrorism attacks underscores the need to develop accurate systems to detect these chemicals. Among different technologies we review here recent advances in the design of chromo-fluorogenic methods for the specific detection of nerve agents. Optical sensing (especially colorimetric detection) requires usually low-cost and widely used instrumentation and offers the possibility of so-called ''naked eye detection''. Recent reported examples suggest that the application of chromo-fluorogenic supramolecular concepts for the chromogenic or fluorogenic sensing of nerve agents might be an area of increasing interest that would allow developing systems able to overcome some of the limitations shown by classical analytical methods.

Detection of 2-(Dialkylamino)ethanethiols and v-Series Nerve Agents in Water and Aqueous Solutions Using Folin-Ciocalteu Reagent

“…However, in principle this method does not enable mutual distinguishing Faculty of Environmental Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic lukas.matejovsky@vscht.cz +420 22044 5069 of organophosphorus nerve agent groups. This is possible only after suitable sample pre-treatment using special procedures based on the different efficiencies of oxime reactivators of AChE [4], or also using other physical, physicochemical and chemical methods with various levels of instrumentation and sensitivity [5][6][7]. The most frequently used methods include chemical methods based on their nucleophilic substitution with alcoholate or hydroxide ions yielding 2-(dialkylamino)ethanethiols, the determination being usually based on their strong reducing effects accompanied by colour changes.…”

Coumarin-Derived Fluorescent Chemosensors

“…One of the applicable technologies is the design of fluorogenic chemosensors for the specific detection of nerve agents (Royo et al, 2007). A coumarin oximate 103 has been developed for detection of chemical warfare simulants based on the PET mechanism that gives an "off-on" fluorescent response with a half-time of approximately 50 ms upon phosphorylation of a reactive oximate functionality (Wallace et al, 2006).…”

Keratinous Materials as Novel Absorbent Systems for Toxic Pollutants

“…Owing to concerns about use of chemical and biological weapons in some regions, it is important to develop effective protective systems against chemical (nerve, blister, asphyxiants and pulmonary agents) and biological (anthrax, botulinum neurotoxin and cytotoxic proteins) warfare agents [83][84][85][86] . To improve the absorption and detoxification of warfare agents, the systems should possess a high surface area with highly interacting chemical functionalities that can detoxify the agents via converting them into non-toxic products.…”