Novel technologies in detection, treatment and prevention of substance use disorders

Hichem Moulahoum ^a,*, Figen Zihnioglu ^a, Suna Timur ^a,b, Hakan Coskunol ^c,**

^a Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey

^b Central Research Testing and Analysis Laboratory Research and Application Center, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir

35100, Turkey

^c Addiction Treatment Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Bornova, Izmir 35100, Turkey

Substance use disorders are a widely recognized problem, which affects various levels of communities and influenced the world socioeconomically. Its source is deeply embedded in the global population. In order to fight against such an adversary, governments have spared no efforts in implementing substance abuse treatment centers and funding research to develop treatments and prevention procedures. In this review, we will discuss the use of immunological-based treatments and detection kit technologies. We will be detailing the steps followed to produce performant antibodies (antigens, carriers, and adjuvants) focusing on cocaine and methamphetamine as examples. Furthermore, part of this review is dedicated to substance use detection. Owing to novel technologies such as bio-functional polymeric surfaces and biosensors manufacturing, detection has become a more convenient method with the fast and on-site developed devices. Commercially available devices are able to test substance use disorders in urine, saliva, hair, and sweat. This improvement has had a tremendous impact on the prevention of driving under influence and other illicit behaviors. Lastly, substance abuse became a major issue involving the cooperation of experts on all levels to devise better treatment programs and prevent abuse-based accidents, injury and death.

Keywords: Substance use disorder, Cocaine/methamphetamine, Drug detection, Biosensors, Immunotherapy