What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC, CBD.

Where was this research published?

Published in Talanta on March 29, 2026.

A smartphone-ready sensor spots THC in saliva within minutes

Q: What did this research study find?

The *aptasensor* detected *THC* in saliva across **0.5–100 ng/mL**, with a **0.15 ng/mL detection limit**.

An immobilization-free aptamer-based liquid sensing display for the label-free detection of illicit Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol.

Talanta • March 29, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

Researchers developed a low-cost, smartphone-compatible sensor for detecting Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in saliva without added labels or complicated sample preparation. The device uses a DNA aptamer—a short strand designed to recognize THC—combined with a graphene oxide film. When THC binds, the aptamer changes shape and moves away from the surface, causing a visible drop in electroluminescence that can be measured by eye or with a smartphone.

The sensor detected THC across 0.5–100 ng/mL, with a detection limit of 0.15 ng/mL, below the commonly used 1 ng/mL oral-fluid threshold cited by the authors. Results were available within 10 minutes, and testing in pooled human saliva produced 96–102% recovery. The sensor also distinguished THC from CBD and CBN. These findings support its potential use for rapid, point-of-need screening in forensic, clinical, and regulatory settings, although the abstract does not establish how the device performs across larger real-world populations or different saliva conditions.

💡 Key Findings

The aptasensor detected THC in saliva across 0.5–100 ng/mL, with a 0.15 ng/mL detection limit.

Good

75%

The device produced reliable results within 10 minutes without complex labeling or sample pretreatment.

Good

70%

The sensor showed strong selectivity, effectively distinguishing THC from CBD and CBN.

Good

70%

Testing in pooled human saliva showed 96–102% recovery, supporting the platform’s potential for practical oral-fluid screening.

Good

65%

The visible electroluminescence readout and smartphone compatibility could enable low-cost, point-of-need cannabis testing in forensic, clinical, and regulatory settings.

Good

60%

📄 Original Abstract

This study presents an alternating-current electroluminescent (ACEL) aptasensing display for label-free, smartphone-based detection of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in saliva. The sensor integrates a graphene oxide (GO) film with a THC-specific DNA aptamer via rapid π-π interactions, establishing an immobilization-free recognition interface. The sensing mechanism is driven by the modulation of the Grotthuss proton-hopping pathway. Upon target binding, the aptamer undergoes a conformational change and detaches from the GO surface. This process results in a decrease in electroluminescence, which is both visually observable and quantifiable. The sensor exhibits a linear dynamic range from 0.5 to 100 ng/mL. Its detection limit of 0.15 ng/mL is well below the common regulatory thresholds for oral fluid (1 ng/mL). The assay achieves reliable responses within 10 min without the need for complex labeling or sample pretreatment. Selectivity tests confirmed that the sensor effectively discriminates THC from cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN). Furthermore, validation on pooled human saliva yielded excellent recovery (96-102%). These features, combined with its low-cost and intuitive visual readout, make this sensor-on-display platform highly suitable for point-of-need applications in forensic, clinical, and regulatory settings.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Talanta
Published: March 29, 2026
PMID: 41911612
DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2026.129740

Authors (5)

Abdulhadee Yakoh The Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Phichanan Duchda Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Professor Aroon Sorathesn Center of Excellence in Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental and Sustainable Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Sopon Butcha Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand.
Orawon Chailapakul Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
Chawin Srisomwat Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathumthani, 12120, Thailand. Electronic address: chawinsr@tu.ac.th.