Defense Date
2025
Document Type
Directed Research Project
First Advisor
Deborah Brimijoin
Second Advisor
Dr. Michelle Peace
Third Advisor
Dr. Christopher Erhardt
Fourth Advisor
Jennifer Clary
Abstract
Psilocybin is readily dephosphorylated to psilocyn under various conditions, such as heating and hydrolysis in solution. Psilocybin identification may be accomplished by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with derivatization. If these methods are not available, determining whether psilocybin was present before analysis or if it was converted to psilocyn during analysis is difficult. The Virginia Department of Forensic Science (VaDFS) uses Direct Analysis in Real Time-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (DART-TOF) for presumptive screening of general unknown samples. Under these conditions, psilocybin is converted to psilocyn. This study focuses on the use of 3-nitrobenzonitrile (3-NBN) crystals instead of the DART ionization source to facilitate matrix assisted ionization in vacuum (MAIV) while keeping the psilocybin intact in neat standards. The standards are combined with a 3-NBN solution and dried down to create a crystallized 3-NBN:sample matrix. The DART is turned off to remove the instrumental ionization source and the crystallized 3-NBN:sample matrix is introduced to the TOF-MS via the vacuum. This method was found to not be suitable for the analysis of psilocybin and psilocyn. Psilocybin underwent dephosphorylation, and both psilocybin and psilocin standards showed varying ionization at the optimal orifice 1 temperature and 3-NBN crystal solution. Further testing is required to fully optimize and streamline the MAIV-TOF for psilocybin and psilocyn screening and to understand how 3-NBN is facilitating the ionization at low temperatures. This method has the potential to be applied to other compounds relevant to drug chemistry, especially those with thermal instability
Rights
© The Author(s)
Is Part Of
VCU Master of Science in Forensic Science Directed Research Projects
Date of Submission
4-27-2025