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
 Development of Improved Extraction/Purification Methods for LC-QqQ-MS Analysis of Novel Psychoactive Substances
Note:
              This awardee has received supplemental funding. This award detail page includes information about both the original award and supplemental awards.
Award Information
Awardee
              The Florida International University Board of Trustees
Award #
              2017-IJ-CX-0004
Funding Category
              Competitive
Location
                    Miami, FL
Congressional District
              26
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2017
Total funding (to date)
              $100,000
Original Solicitation
              NIJ FY17 Graduate Research Fellowship Program in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $50,000)
Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are similar in structure to scheduled compounds, but differ in structure enough that they are not considered illegal. NPS have similar effects to their scheduled counterparts and are sold on the street in order to avoid drug laws. 

Since each new NPS has a structure different than ones before it they cannot be immediately scheduled, therefore the sale of these compounds cannot be stopped immediately. 

NPS pose serious complications for both consumers and forensic scientists. As for consumers, little is known about potency and body-drug interactions leading to toxicity and hospitalization. The high number of possible NPS structures makes it very difficult for forensic laboratories to identify them in biological fluids. 

Recently, the sale and use of NPS have been on the rise. Many established screening methods for common drugs of abuse, like immunoassays, are incapable of detecting a large number of known NPS. Due to the increased usage of these substances it is imperative that there are comprehensive methods available that are capable of detecting a wide variety NPS that fall under different drug classes. This research proposes to optimize and validate a screening/confirmatory method capable of detecting over 800 NPS using liquid chromatography triple quadruple mass spectrometry (LC-QqQ-MS). The two most common biological matrices testing when screening for drugs of abuse are urine and whole blood.

Sample prep is very important when using these matrices because they are composed of compounds that can cause a number of matrix effects, making it difficult to detect the desired drug of abuse. There are a number of established methods of extraction when dealing with common drugs of abuse in urine or blood, but there is no one optimized method for the extraction of NPS. 

Even though many NPS have structures related to common drugs of abuse, it is important to have one extraction method capable of extracting multiple NPS. This would decrease cost and analysis time while potentially increasing drug recovery. This project aims to create an optimal extraction method for NPS in urine and whole blood by comparing dilute/crash and shoot, on-line solid phase extraction (SPE), Captiva®, and QuEChERS. 

This optimized extraction method coupled with the validated LC-QqQ-MS screening/confirmatory method will be beneficial to the identification of novel psychoactive substances in forensic toxicology screening. Findings will be published in a doctoral dissertation, at least two peer-reviewed articles, and in presentations at national scientific meetings.

ca/ncf
Supplemental Award 1 (Fiscal Year 2018, $50,000)
The high number of possible novel psychoactive substances (NPS) used in designer drugs makes it difficult for forensic laboratories to identify them in biological samples. The applicant proposes to develop a single, optimal extraction method for forensic toxicology screening capable of detecting more than 800 NPS in blood and urine samples, using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.
"Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law," and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR  200.210(a)(14).
nca/ncf


  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      Development of Improved Extraction/Purification Methods and Comprehensive Screening/Confirmation by LC-QqQ-MS Analysis for Novel Psychoactive Substances
                  Systematic analysis of novel psychoactive substances. II. Development of a screening/confirmatory LC-QqQ-MS/MS method for 800

  
Date Created: September 19, 2017
    
          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
        
                      Climate, Culture, and Correction Officer Wellness
                  Comparison of Examiner Conclusions with Score-based Likelihood Ratios for Cartridge Case Evidence
                  The Low-Down on Methamphetamine Isomers: Prevalence and Pharmacology in Humans
 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