Miniature ION mobility detector for compact liquid chromatographic analysis of novel psychoactive substances

The National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded LC Acquisition LLC, doing business as Axcend LLC, $313,721 for a Phase I project grant under the Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs (CFDA 93.279) effective June 1, 2026.

The award funds development and evaluation of a miniature tandem ion mobility spectrometry (IMS/IMS) detector integrated into a compact, portable capillary liquid chromatography system to detect trace amounts of novel psychoactive substances and fentanyl adulterants in bodily fluids at parts-per-billion sensitivity. The detector will be mounted in the column-detector cartridge of Axcend's commercial Focus capillary LC platform and will employ field-induced fragmentation to introduce structural content into mobility spectra for positive compound identification. This approach addresses the sensitivity and selectivity limitations of UV-absorption detection alone while providing a simpler, smaller, and more operator-accessible alternative to tandem mass spectrometry instrumentation for workers treating substance use disorders.

The recipient is a Dallas-based for-profit limited liability company that manufactures liquid chromatography platforms and analytical instrumentation. Work is performed in Dallas, Texas, with a period of performance ending May 31, 2027. The project represents Phase I of a small business innovation research effort, with successful completion intended to advance commercialization of the analyzer for trace analysis related to drug addiction and overdose.

Abstract

Capillary liquid chromatography (LC) using UV-absorption detection alone does not have enough sensitivity to detect trace amounts of new emerging psychoactive substances and harmful adulterant compounds, such as fentanyl and xylazine in urine samples at the required 1 PPB level without laborious and time-consuming sample preparation steps. In comparison, detection using tandem mass spectrometry (i.e., MS/MS) eliminates most of these sample preparation steps because of its exceptional sensitivity and selectivity. Unfortunately, LC-MS/MS instrumentation is large, expensive, and beyond the operating expertise of typical workers involved in treating substance use disorders. On the other hand, an analogous technique, ION mobility spectrometry (i.e., IMS), is much smaller, simpler to operate, and possesses the required high sensitivity. In this project, we propose to construct and evaluate a miniature tandem IMS detector (i.e., IMS/IMS) that can be easily mounted in the column-detector cartridge of our commercial compact, portable axcend focus capillary LC for trace analysis of current and emerging psychoactive substances in bodily fluids and other samples. The use of tandem IMS with field induced fragmentation introduces structural content into mobility spectra to ensure positive compound identification. We have assembled a team comprised of top scientific experts in capillary LC and miniaturized IMS to ensure successful completion of this proposed work. The success of this phase I project will pave the way to develop and commercialize a powerful new analyzer to address trace analysis needs related to drug addiction and overdose as well as many other diverse applications.