Organic Thin Film Transistor-Based Cannabinoid Sensors

Abstract

The legalization of cannabis for medical and recreational use has created global legal markets, resulting in economic growth and job opportunities. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the nonpsychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) are the primary bioactive compounds from the plant Cannabis sativa and sensors for their detection are vital for monitoring the effects on patients, understanding strain effects, and ensuring accurate potency information. Current detection methods require specialized facilities, making low-cost hand-held sensors desirable for public safety, regulatory compliance, and industry efficiency. Electrical sensors, such as organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), offer advantages over optical sensors, and metal phthalocyanines (MPcs) show promise as an active semiconducting sensing material. Through both molecular interactions and thin film reorganization, MPc-based OTFTs have been demonstrated to enable the detection and differentiation of THC and CBD both in the vapor and solution. This spotlight article discusses recent advances in the discovery and optimization of MPc based THC and CBD OTFT sensors and highlights their promising future.