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
 LC-QqQ-MS screening assay for abused drug exposure based on covalent peptide/protein modification
Award Information
Awardee
              FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
Award #
              2020-R2-CX-0023
Funding Category
              Competitive Discretionary
Location
                    MIAMI, FL
Congressional District
              26
Status
              Closed
Funding First Awarded
              2020
Total funding (to date)
              $100,000
Original Solicitation
              Graduate Research Fellowship, Fiscal Year 2020
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2020, $100,000)
Long-term assessment of drug use or exposure is limited to analysis of hair nowadays, for which numerous methods and a large literature database exists. Although widely used for this purpose, hair analysis presents many challenges. An alternative to hair analysis is the study of covalent binding of drugs to proteins and/or peptides, such as hemoglobin (Hb), human serum albumin (HSA), and glutathione (GSH) to form drug-protein or drug-peptide adducts. Such protein modifications remain in the body for the lifetime of the protein and can provide a much longer window of detection of exposure than is generally possible by direct measurement of a parent compound or a metabolite in blood. Such data may be critically important in forensic toxicology, such as evidence in drug-facilitated crimes, measurement of drug compliance or abstinence in pain drug management, addiction rehabilitation programs, and probation/parole criminal justice situations. While widely used in human exposure assessment for environmental and occupational chemicals, applications of protein adducts as markers of illicit drug exposure are virtually nonexistent.
The first goal of this research is to utilize three different methods to generate reactive metabolites of drugs of abuse: in vitro metabolic assays, chemical oxidation, and electrochemical oxidation to produce reactive metabolites of drugs of abuse. After the metabolites have been produced, the capability of these reactive species to form adducts with reactive biological thiols present in proteins and peptides will be assessed. By comparing all these systems, the following can be determined: 1) the similarities in the metabolites generated, 2) which system can yield a higher quantity of the desired metabolites, and 3) what is the most efficient method for the formation of the drug-protein adducts. Analysis of potential adducts will be performed through liquid chromatography (LC) mass spectrometry (MS). The end goal is to develop and validate a LC-MS method for routine detection of Hb and HAS modifications by drugs of abuse. For each adduct found, two to four precursor/product ion pairs will be selected as targeted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions for confirmation of a specific drug adduct. Finally, the developed method will be employed to analyze authentic blood specimens, in order to analyze the adducts formed in vivo. This goal will be facilitated by collaborations with local physicians who manage drug rehabilitation programs with in-house laboratory facilities.
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).  CA/NCF



  
Grant-Funded Publications
        
                      LC-MS Screening Assay For Abused Drug Exposure Based On Covalent Peptide/Protein Modification

  
Date Created: September 20, 2020
    
          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 Program
 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