Eco/genotoxic characterization of new psychoactive substances

• Grant number: 25/07242-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Gisela de Aragão Umbuzeiro
• Grantee: Gabriely Fernanda Groto Militão
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of chemical substances to alter mental states and sensory perception has accompanied human history. New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) are substances capable of modifying the central nervous system. Among the most frequently detected groups are synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic cathinones, known for their effects similar to traditional drugs, but with a higher risk potential due to the lack of regulation. Synthetic cannabinoids, such as MDMB-4en-PINACA, stand out for their binding to CB1 receptors in the central nervous system, while cathinones, like eutylone, alter neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. These similar substances have already been detected in aquatic systems, posing risks to aquatic biota. Data on the ecotoxicity, mutagenicity/genotoxicity, and behavioral effects of NPS are scarce, limiting the understanding of their impacts. The aim of this project is to characterize the ecotoxicological, mutagenic/genotoxic, and neuro/behavioral hazards of the synthetic cathinone eutylone and the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-4en-PINACA. Acute toxicity will be evaluated in Daphnia similis and Parhyale hawaiensis, while mutagenic effects will be assessed using the Salmonella/microsome assay (in vitro) and the micronucleus test with P. hawaiensis hemolymph. The comet assay (in vivo) will evaluate genotoxicity in germ cells of P. hawaiensis. Protocols for neuro/behavioral testing in P. hawaiensis will be developed. The use of an invertebrate model for mutagenic/genotoxic and neuro/behavioral assessments may complement data from vertebrate models, avoiding the use of mammals.