Chemical profiling of methamphetamine seized in Sao Paulo

• Grant number: 12/22071-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2013
• End date: August 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Marina Franco Maggi Tavares
• Grantee: Debora Bressanim de Aquino Calemi
• Host Institution: Instituto de Criminalística. Superintendência da Polícia Técnico-Científica (SPTC). Secretaria da Segurança Pública (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Methamphetamine, an amphetamine-type stimulant is widely used as a drug of abuse in other countries, but it was banned only a few months ago in Brazil. The chemical profile of the drug is currently one of the most important tools of police intelligence to fight drug trafficking. It is based in information about the chemical composition of the seized drugs, and to correlate these parameters with information relevant to the investigation. Thus, this project aims to investigate the chemical composition of samples of methamphetamine seized in the state of São Paulo by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and capillary electrophoresis with diode array detection (CE-DAD). From the obtained results, it is expected to achieve better understanding of the trafficking routes this synthetic drug abuse, yet little studied in Brazil, as well as contribute to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute poisoning caused by methamphetamine. (AU)