The subject invention provides methods, assays, and products for visual detection of small-molecule targets in a sample in both clinical and field settings within minutes. The subject invention is based on an aptamer sensor that reports the presence of small-molecule target via a sensitive colorimetric signal for naked-eye detection. The aptamer sensor is a CBSAzyme-based sensor having both target-mediated cooperative behavior of the CBSA and peroxidase-mimicking catalytic activity of DNAzyme. The subject invention also provides methods of using the CBSAzyme-based sensor.

Provided herein are methods of treating pain using pharmaceutical compositions that comprise an allosteric modulator of TRPV1, optionally in admixture with a TRPV1 ligand. The pharmaceutical composition is substantially free of THC and THCA. Also provided are methods of identifying an allosteric modulator of TRPV1 by analyzing binding to a specific binding pocket in TRPV1 and designing a complex mixture comprising the allosteric modulator for treating pain.

The subject invention provides methods, assays, and products for visual detection of small-molecule targets in a sample in both clinical and field settings within minutes. The subject invention is based on an aptamer sensor that reports the presence of small-molecule target via a sensitive colorimetric signal for naked-eye detection. The aptamer sensor is a CBSAzyme-based sensor having both target-mediated cooperative behavior of the CBSA and peroxidase-mimicking catalytic activity of DNAzyme. The subject invention also provides methods of using the CBSAzyme-based sensor.

Various techniques are provided to determine the presence of trace chemicals corresponding to various materials of interest. In one example, a method includes providing a chemical reporter of a chemical detector. The chemical reporter includes protonated 2-[5-methoxy-2-(4-phenyl-quinoline-2yl)-phenyl]-ethanol. A vapor-phase amine compound is subsequently received at the chemical reporter. The chemical detector then detects a response of the chemical reporter to the amine compound to determine whether materials of interest are present. Additional methods and related devices are also provided.

A method for determining a narcotic in a mixture comprising at least one interferant. The method comprises: (a) determining a voltage at which, in absence of the interferant, a voltammetric signal of the narcotic can be detected; (b) contacting an electrode with the mixture comprising the at least one interferant and potentially comprising the narcotic; (c) applying a pretreatment potential to the electrode for a duration of at least 5 seconds, the pretreatment potential measuring between 0.4 V and 2 V versus Ag/AgCl; (d) measuring a voltammetric response of the mixture, the measurement comprising at least the determined voltage; and (e) determining whether the narcotic is present in the mixture by analyzing whether the voltammetric signal of the narcotic, resolved from a voltammetric signal of the interferant, can be detected in the measured voltammetric response.

A method for determining a narcotic in a mixture comprising at least one interferant. The method comprises: (a) determining a voltage at which, in absence of the interferant, a voltammetric signal of the narcotic can be detected; (b) contacting an electrode with the mixture comprising the at least one interferant and potentially comprising the narcotic; (c) applying a pretreatment potential to the electrode for a duration of at least 5 seconds, the pretreatment potential measuring between 0.4 V and 2 V versus Ag/AgCl; (d) measuring a voltammetric response of the mixture, the measurement comprising at least the determined voltage; and (e) determining whether the narcotic is present in the mixture by analyzing whether the voltammetric signal of the narcotic, resolved from a voltammetric signal of the interferant, can be detected in the measured voltammetric response.

Immunoassay methods and their requisite components for the detection and determination of phenethylamines of the 2C and DO sub-families are described.

The present invention provides a rapid, sensitive method for forensic drug testing in a post-mortem subject or a live or a post-mortem animal using oral fluid collected from the post-mortem subject or live or post-mortem animal. The method comprises collecting a sample of oral fluid from a post-mortem subject or a live or a post-mortem animal, analyzing the oral fluid sample qualitatively to detect the presence of one or more non-naturally occurring drugs, analyzing the oral fluid sample quantitatively to determine concentration of the one or more non-naturally occurring drugs in the post-mortem subject or in the live or the post-mortem animal, and identifying the one or more non-naturally occurring drugs in the post-mortem subject or in the live or the post-mortem animal. The detection and quantification in oral fluid is more sensitive and faster than detection and quantification of the non-naturally occurring drugs in blood, urine, bile, and liver tissue collected from the same post-mortem subject. Further, the qualitative and quantitative results are obtained in as little as three hours.

The subject invention provides methods, assays, and products for visual detection of small-molecule targets in a sample in both clinical and field settings within minutes. The subject invention is based on an aptamer sensor that reports the presence of small-molecule target via a sensitive colorimetric signal for naked-eye detection. The aptamer sensor is a CBSAzyme-based sensor having both target-mediated cooperative behavior of the CBSA and peroxidase-mimicking catalytic activity of DNAzyme. The subject invention also provides methods of using the CBSAzyme-based sensor.

The subject invention provides methods, assays, and products for detecting small molecules in a sample, in particular, in both clinical and field settings. The method for detecting a small-molecule target, preferably, a synthetic cathinone in a sample comprises contacting the sample with an aptamer-based sensor selective for the small-molecule target, and detecting the small-molecule target in the sample. Specifically, the method utilizes an aptamer-based sensor comprising a dye binding to a three-way junction binding domain of an aptamer. Binding of small-molecule target to the aptamer displaces the dye, generating a spectroscopic signal that can be used for detection of the small-molecule target and quantitative measurement of the target concentration.