Jekaterina Mazina-Šinkar

The rapid emergence of new illegal drugs (HHC, nitazenes, synthetic cathinones, etc.) creates a need for fast, on-site drug testing tools that can detect multiple substances in biofluids. These tools are crucial for clinicians, anti-doping experts, and law enforcement. Multiplexed portable analytical tools have a great potential to be implemented for this purposes. Moreover, such kind of instruments could be utilized in personal healthcare monitoring by enabling early-stage diagnostics of health problems. This project aims to develop electrophoresis-based analytical tools for reliable, fast and cost-effective metabolism studies in vitro, revealing the characteristics and metabolic pathways of new psychoactive substances. Additionally, new on-site biofluid testing tools (focused on oral fluid) will be developed for detecting new drugs. The results of this project will enhance drug monitoring, support public health, and improve safety.

The ENACT (https://enact-eu.net/) strengthens crime prevention and counter-terrorism efforts by supporting cutting-edge technologies like the Drug Hunter Analyzer. Developed by TalTech and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, Drug Hunter enables fast and reliable on-site drug detection in oral fluid within minutes. ENACT funding aims to enhance the visibility of Drug Hunter by supporting pilot studies, validation, and dissemination efforts, ensuring its successful adoption in law enforcement and forensic applications.