INSPEQT project: investigation of new psychoactive substances in chemistry and forensic toxicology

• Grant number: 21/09857-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2022
• End date: February 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Mauricio Yonamine
• Grantee: Mauricio Yonamine
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: José Luiz da Costa ; Marcelo Filonzi dos Santos

Abstract

The new psychoactive substances (NPS) are a global and emerging phenomenon, with 111 countries having reported seizures and identification of more than 800 compounds, among which are synthetic cannabinoids, stimulants, hallucinogens and synthetic opioids. NPS have challenged the traditional approaches in monitoring, surveillance, control and public health protection measures in relation to drug trafficking and abuse. Specific difficulties include the large number and diversity of substances classified as NPS, the speed with which they enter and exit the illicit market, the different forms of drug presentation, the difficulty in identifying chemically NSP and the lack of knowledge of the potency and range of their toxic effects on users. This project aims to develop chemical identification strategies for these compounds, both in the seized raw drug (in its various presentations) and in biological samples of forensic toxicological interest (urine, blood and oral fluid). Forensic chemical analyses of the raw drug will be applied to samples seized by the forensic institutions partnering in the project. The data generated and the constant monitoring of chemical analyses will guide the acquisition of NPS reference standards for the development of bioanalytical methods for forensic toxicological analysis, using chromatographic techniques coupled with mass spectrometry. These methods will be developed considering recent sample preparation techniques based on Green Analytical Chemistry. Thus, the construction of a robust and integrated knowledge and monitoring network of the NPS phenomenon is expected, with developed and validated analytical and bioanalytical methods, incidence data in different regions of Brazil and toxicological information on the effects and concentration levels found in biological samples. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GONCALVES DE ARAUJO, KAREN RAFAELA; FABRIS, ANDRE LUIS; NEVES, LUIZ F., JR.; PONCE, JULIO DE CARVALHO; SOARES, ALEXANDRE LEARTH; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ; YONAMINE, MAURICIO. The mystery behind the apprehensions of the selective cannabinoid receptor type-2 agonist BZO-HEXOXIZID (MDA-19) as a drug of abuse. Forensic Toxicology, v. 41, n. 1, p. 9-pg., 2022-10-08. (21/09857-8)

FABRIS, ANDRE LUIS; MARTINS, ALINE FRANCO; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ; YONAMINE, MAURICIO. A new application of the switchable hydrophilicity solvent-based homogenous liquid-liquid microextraction to analyze synthetic cannabinoids in plasma by LC-MS/MS. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, v. 234, p. 11-pg., 2023-09-20. (20/10809-5, 21/09857-8)

FABRIS, ANDRE LUIS; LANARO, RAFAEL; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ; YONAMINE, MAURICIO. Development of a Dispersive Liquid-Liquid Microextraction for Synthetic Cathinones in Biological Fluids Based on Principles of Green Analytical Toxicology. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY, v. 47, n. 4, p. 13-pg., 2023-01-24. (21/09857-8)

NEVES JUNIOR, LUIZ FERREIRA; FABRIS, ANDRE LUIS; BARBOSA, INGRID LOPES; PONCE, JULIO DE CARVALHO; MARTINS, ALINE FRANCO; COSTA, JOSE LUIZ; YONAMINE, MAURICIO. Lucy is back in Brazil with a new dress. Forensic Science International, v. 341, p. 7-pg., 2022-10-22. (21/09857-8)