Ecstasy, 3, 4-methylenedioxy-methylamphetamine (MDMA) and its analogue Eve, 3, 4-methylenedioxy-ethylamphetamine (MDEA) are well-known illicit street drugs. The need for monitoring of these substances has been developed as a result of increased recreational uses. The abused psychoactive drug MDMA induces psychostimulation, hallucination and long-term neuropsychiatric behaviors, such as depression and psychosis.

Commercially available amphetamine and methamphetamine immunoassays often fail to detect ecstasy-class compounds in the biological fluids at lower concentration. Our goal is to design immunogens and develop antibodies against ecstasy class compounds. These antibodies will be used to develop immunoassays for specific ecstasy class compounds as well as for combination assays to detect amphetamine, methamphetamine and ecstasy class compounds in biological fluids. In this report we describe the syntheses of novel ecstasy class immunogens (1 & 2).

Monoclonal antibodies have been generated using the immunogens (1 & 2). Three different types of clones have been selected, each with a different specificity. By use of a proper choice of the monoclonal antibodies, a very specific immunoassay with improved detection of ecstasy class drugs can be developed. The ecstasy drug is selected from the groups consisting of MDA, MDMA, MDEA, MDPA, BDB, MBDB and combinations thereof. The cross-reactivity data of these monoclonal antibodies towards ecstasy class compounds will be discussed.