Evaluation of interferences and development of robust protocols for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Detection of Fentanyl and analogous molecules

在加拿大，非法药物的可获得性是一个重大的公共卫生和安全风险。特别是，在过去的几年里，这些药物被芬太尼污染导致了加拿大数千人的死亡。SPECTRUM等离子体公司基于其专有的传感器技术开发了一种很有前途的新方法，用于检测芬太尼和其他非法药物。这项新技术(表面增强拉曼光谱)将提供准确、便携和成本效益高的药物样品中芬太尼的分析。SPECTRUM等离子体公司有这种令人兴奋的技术的原型传感器，但需要得到帮助来评估切割剂等潜在干扰和海洛因和羟考酮等其他阿片类药物的影响。这笔赠款将资助所需的学术专业知识，以阐明这些干扰的机制，并开发在现实世界中起作用的可靠方法。准确的现场检测多种药物配方中的芬太尼将填补加拿大人公共健康和安全方面的一个关键空白。

In Canada, the availability of illicit drugs represents a major public health and safety risk. In particular, contamination of these drugs with Fentanyl has been implicated in thousands of deaths in Canada in the last few years. Spectra Plasmonics has developed a promising new method for the detection of Fentanyl and other illicit drugs based on their proprietary sensor technology. This new technology (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) would provide accurate, portable and cost-effective analysis of Fentanyl in drug samples. Spectra Plasmonics has prototype sensors for this exciting technique however needs assistance to evaluate the effect of potential interferences such as cutting agents and other opioids such as heroin and oxycodone. This grant will fund the academic expertise required to elucidate the mechanisms of these interferences and develop robust methods which will work in real world scenarios. Accurate on-site detection of Fentanyl in multidrug formulations will fill a crucial gap in the public health and safety of Canadians.