Enantioselektive Unterscheidung von Cannabis-verwandten flüchtigen organischen Verbindungsgemischen durch Sensorarrays basierend auf nanoporösen chiralen metallorganischen Gerüstfilmen

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Stefan Bräse; Privatdozent Dr. Lars Heinke
• Subject Area: Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 404595447

Although crucial in most biological processes, the technical discrimination of chiral molecules and their molecular mixtures is an exceptionally challenging but important task. Based on our results during the first funding period, we will realize a general stereoselective sensor comprising regioselective, diastereoselective, and enantioselective detection of volatile organic compounds. This project aims to set up a simple and low-priced chiral electronic nose (e-nose) for precisely sensing various chiral molecular mixtures. The system is composed of up to 16 individual Quartz Crystal Microbalances (QCM) sensors, which are coated with different homochiral nanoporous metal-organic framework (MOF) films made of custom-made homochiral linkers based on [2.2] paracyclophane and BINOL. The different, well-defined crystalline homochiral MOF structures result in specific (enantioselective) interactions between the functional chiral pores and the chiral guest molecules. Thus, the response of each QCM sensor will be different, resulting in a fingerprint of each molecule. The complex data will be evaluated with advanced machine-learning algorithms. As a result, the e-nose system will allow the accurate discrimination of chiral molecules. In a pilot trial, we will focus on the accurate discrimination of chiral odor molecules, which conventional sensors cannot discriminate, although their odors are vastly different. Later, we will target drugs and natural cannabinoids to precisely discriminate and quantify the crucial enantiomers of bioactive drugs and terpenes related to volatile organic cannabis ingredients (THC and other metabolites). This is important since industrially produced, and conventional cannabis preparations can thus be distinguished, which is an interesting and important quality feature. The composition of the different compounds related to cannabis can be seen as a kind of "individual fingerprint”, which differs from one cannabis cultivar/strain to another but could even differ in one strain depending on the cultivation or storage conditions. Therefore, specific and easy options to analyze cannabis for exact identification are vital tools for forensic medicine, quality controls within the process, and drug-enforcement agencies (in Germany, the police).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants