POLYMERIC GEL COMPOSITIONS FOR DETECTION OF THC
A polymeric gel incorporating a diazonium salt for detection of THC. The diazonium salt may be covalently attached to the polymer, or non-covalently distributed throughout the polymer. The polymeric gel may be formulated as a spot on a test strip to be used for drug testing. The drug may include THC. Methods of preparing a polymerizable diazonium salt precursor, called an amino aryloxyl monomer, as well as methods of preparing a polymeric gel incorporating a diazonium salt.
1 . A composition for detecting THC comprising polymerized monomers and a diazonium salt,
(i) wherein the diazonium salt is covalently attached to the polymerized monomers; or
(ii) wherein the diazonium salt is non-covalently dispersed throughout the polymerized monomers.
2 . The composition of claim 1 , comprising more than one type of polymerized monomer.
3 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the polymerized monomers comprise mono-, di-, or multi-functional monomers comprising vinyl monomers, acrylate monomers, methacrylate monomers, or a combination thereof.
4 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the diazonium salt is stabilized by addition of an alternate counterion.
5 . The composition of claim 4 , wherein the counterion comprises thiocyanate, picrate, carboxylate, tosylate, or o-benzenedisulfonimide.
6 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the diazonium salt is non-covalently dispersed throughout the polymerized monomers, wherein the diazonium salt comprises a compound of Formula (I):
wherein A is an aromatic or nitrogen-containing group, or wherein A is absent,
wherein each R 1 is independently alkyl, ether, alcohol, or aromatic,
wherein n is 1 or 2,
wherein each R 2 is independently —H, -halogen, or alkyl, and
wherein m is 2 or 3.
7 . The diazonium salt of claim 6 wherein A is NO 2 , a phenyl group attached via nitrogen, or a disubstituted phenyl group.
8 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the diazonium salt is non-covalently dispersed throughout the polymerized monomers, wherein the diazonium salt comprises a compound of Formula (IA):
wherein each R 1 is independently —H or alkyl,
wherein n is 1 or 2,
wherein each R 2 is independently —H, -halogen, or alkyl,
wherein m is 2 or 3, and
wherein each R 3 is independently —H, alkyl, or ether.
9 . The composition of claim 1 , wherein the diazonium salt is non-covalently dispersed throughout the polymerized monomers, wherein the diazonium salt comprises a compound of Formula (IB):
10 . A molecule comprising an amino aryloxyl monomer comprising a polymerizable double bond,
wherein the amino aryloxyl monomer comprises a compound of Formula (II):
wherein is an aromatic or nitrogen-containing group, or wherein A is absent,
wherein each R 4 is independently selected from alkyl, -vinyl, acrylate, or methacrylate,
wherein n is 1 or 2,
wherein each R 2 is independently —H, -halogen, or alkyl,
wherein m is 2 or 3.
11 .- 17 . (canceled)
18 . A test strip comprising:
a substantially transparent substrate; and
one or more test spots comprising the composition of claim 1 attached onto a porous support material, wherein the porous support material has at least one exposed surface constructed to absorb a fluid.
19 . The test strip of claim 18 , wherein the diazonium salt is covalently attached to the polymerized monomers, and wherein the diazonium salt shows less leaching during testing than when the diazonium salt is non-covalently dispersed throughout the polymerized monomers.
20 . The test strip of claim 18 , wherein the diazonium salt covalently attached to the polymerized monomers, and wherein the diazonium salt has greater thermal stability than when the diazonium salt is non-covalently dispersed throughout the polymerized monomers.
21 . The test strip of claim 18 , wherein the fluid comprises sample dissolved in a solvent, wherein optionally the sample comprises at least one of blood, urine, plasma, saliva, or a combination thereof.
22 . The test strip of claim 21 , wherein the solvent comprises a buffer with a pH of 7 or higher.
23 .- 24 . (canceled)
25 . A method for making a composition for detecting THC comprising polymerized monomers and a diazonium salt,
(i) wherein the diazonium salt is covalently attached to the polymerized monomers; or
(ii) wherein the diazonium salt is non-covalently dispersed throughout the polymerized monomers, the method comprising:
preparing a reaction mixture comprising aromatic amines, polymerizable moieties, and solvent;
polymerizing the reaction mixture by addition of a radical initiator to produce a polymer with the aromatic amines dispersed within the polymer; and
reacting the aromatic amines to yield a composition comprising a diazonium salt and polymerized monomers.
26 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the reaction mixture comprises one or more types of polymerizable monomers, one or more types of aromatic amines, or both.
27 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the polymerizable monomers comprise mono-, di-, or multi-functional monomers comprising vinyl monomers, acrylate monomers, methacrylate monomers, or a combination thereof.
28 .- 30 . (canceled)
31 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the solvent comprises dichloromethane, acetonitrile, acetone, methanol, ethanol or a combination thereof.
32 . The method of claim 25 , wherein the aromatic amines are activated by addition of sodium nitrite (NaNO 2 ) and hydrochloric acid (HCl).
33 .- 58 . (canceled)