CAREER: Leveraging High-Resolution Ion Mobility and Tandem Mass Spectrometry for Analysis of Novel Psychoactive Substances

This project is developing new methods to characterize drug compounds using a combination of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The study is important as it has the potential to significantly improve structural determination for novel and previously undetected drugs and related molecules. Through interactions with both industry and other academic groups, research results obtained at Clemson University will be disseminated to other laboratories to broaden the impact of the methods and advance mass spectrometry-based structural analysis. Individuals and their families in Upstate South Carolina will benefit from the education plan which aims to broaden exposure to STEM. Additionally, the research will advance biotechnology and contribute to translational innovations by developing new technologies capable of better understanding the effects of these molecules on biological systems. This research focuses on developing new methods to separate and identify drug isomers using ion mobility-mass spectrometry (IM-MS). Specifically, the proposed research will focus on determining gas-phase structure of conformers and protomers using a novel combination of IM-MS, isotopic labeling, and computational approaches. Furthermore, the dependence of gas-phase isomer structure on experimental parameters will be investigated to yield both fundamental understanding and improved application of the technology. The research also includes an integrated education plan with the goals of developing a coursework-based undergraduate research experience and modernizing the undergraduate mass spectrometry curriculum. This education plan will provide undergraduate students with increased access to STEM. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.