Room-temperature phosphorescence,sensitized phosphorescence and fluorescence of licit and illicit drugs enhanced by organized media

The ability of microscopically organized media, in the form of surfactant micelles and α- and β-cyclodextrins, to enhance the luminescence phenomena of several licit and illicit drugs is discussed. Because physiological samples are not often amenable to direct spectrometric measurements without pretreatment, the applicability of these organized media to liquid chromatography is also considered. Fluorescence enhancements for certain hallucinogenic drugs such as N,N-dimethyltryptamine, mescaline and ibogaine are seen in cyclodextrin media compared to conventional, homogeneous solutions. Heavy-atom substituted sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles induce phosphorescence from cationic and/or hydrophobic drugs at room temperature in fluid solution; drugs such as propranolol, diflunisal, naphalozine, and selected quinoline derivatives can be determined conveniently. Sensitized phosphorescence is observed for several drugs including brethine, cocaine, didrate, estradiol, meprobarbital, methaqualone, phenobarbital, and sulfanilamide; it can be enhanced markedly when micellar solutions are used as the solvent. The energy-transfer step is facilitated by the organizing ability of the micelle; limits of detection can be decreased by over two orders of magnitude compared to homogeneous solvents. Sensitized phosphorescence can also be measured in cyclodextrin solutions, but the detectability is inferior to that in micellar media. Which form of organized medium is superior for determination of drugs is discussed.