U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Funding & Awards
 A Systematic Evaluation of the Analysis of Drug Microcrystals Using Infrared Microspectroscopy
Award Information
Awardee
              West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Award #
              2014-R2-CX-K008
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    West Chester, PA
Congressional District
              6
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2014
Total funding (to date)
              $53,481
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY 14 Research and Development in Forensic Science for Criminal Justice Purposes
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2014, $53,481)
As submitted by the proposer: The ever evolving nature of the illicit drug market has not only posed significant analytical challenges but also created opportunities for development of new techniques and analytical approaches. The primary focus has been on confirmatory techniques. There is limited information available on the continued use of well-established screening techniques and their role in the analytical scheme. There is a need for rapid and more discriminatory preliminary techniques. We propose to address this need by conducting a systematic study of microcrystal tests for the new classes of drugs such as benzylpiperazines, pyrrolidophenones and beta keto amphetamines. This proposal creates an opportunity to understand the chemistry of microcrystal tests by combining the physical characteristics of crystals with their molecular information. Microcrystal tests have long been used successfully to identify some classes of drugs but have recently faced questions regarding the relative subjectivity associated with the identification of crystals. We propose that the combination of microcrystal tests and infrared microspectroscopy will be a mutually advantageous analytical process. The relative subjectivity associated with the identification of drugs using microcrystal tests can be mitigated when combined with the unique infrared spectrum of the crystal. The microcrystal tests in turn strengthen the application of infrared spectroscopy to drug mixtures. This combined technique has the potential to serve as a one-step process identification of controlled substances by SWGDRUG recommendations. It combines a category A and a category B technique in a rapid, cost-effective and sensitive analytical scheme. In this project we will first study the suitability of microcrystal tests to the above mentioned drug classes and document crystal characteristics with selected reagents. We will then use an FTIR microscope to analyze the microcrystals and compare the infrared spectra to the pure drug standard. The infrared spectra will be used to interpret the differences between crystals formed by closely related compounds or crystals with similar physical characteristics. The data generated will be in the form of photomicrographs of crystals and their corresponding infrared spectra. The data generated will be available for review and reproduction by other laboratories. Upon success of the initial studies we will implement this method for typical forensic drug samples to determine its applicability to casework and the potential for acceptance in court.
ca/ncf



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Identifying PCP and four PCP analogs using the gold chloride microcrystalline test followed by raman microspectroscopy and chemometrics
                  Researchers Improve Accuracy by Combining Testing Methods for Emerging Recreational Drugs
                  A Systematic Evaluation of the Analysis of Drug Microcrystals Using Infrared Microspectroscopy

  
Date Created: September 11, 2014
    
          Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              Current Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Forthcoming Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Expired Funding
    
      
            
            
            
      Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
    
      
            
            
            
      Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
    
      
            
            
            
      Fellowship & Student Programs
    
      
            
            
            
      Travel Scholarships
    
      
            
            
            
      NIJ Challenge ProgramSimilar Awards
        
                      Evaluating the reliability and accuracy of multiple geophysical methods in the search for clandestine graves
                  A 28-year longitudinal study of victimization and perpetration of violence in high-risk youth: Advancing the development of preventive interventions in the community
                  Strengthening Scientific Foundations for Advancing Best Practices in the Collection, Storage, Analysis, and Interpretation of Organic and Inorganic Gunshot Residues
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov