Beyond the Known: Molecular Insights into the World of New Psychoactive Compounds
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Macromolecules".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2025 | Viewed by 848
Special Issue Editors
Interests: synthesis; analytical methodologies; toxicology; structure–activity relationships; metabolism; biomarkers; elucidation of toxicity mechanisms; drug checking
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: biochemistry; cell lines studies; toxicology; biological assays; metabolic effects; biomarkers; toxicity mechanisms; analytical methodologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to invite you to submit contributions to the Special Issue“Beyond the Known: Molecular Insights into the World of New Psychoactive Compounds” in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. The challenges posed by the rapid spread of new psychoactive substances (NPS) in recreational drug markets have created significant concerns for both public health and regulatory agencies worldwide. The speed at which new synthetic drugs emerge and the variability in their composition lead to unpredictable effects on consumers’ health and pose difficulties in their detection by forensic and clinical laboratories. Given the increasing threat of NPS, there is an urgent need for a deeper understanding of their molecular properties, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and their potential therapeutic or adverse effects.
This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research on the molecular aspects of NPS, from their chemical synthesis and analytical detection to their biological interactions and health implications. By consolidating recent advances in this field, we seek to provide a comprehensive perspective on the impact of NPS on human health and contribute to the development of innovative approaches for their detection, regulation, and risk reduction.
This Special Issue welcomes original articles, short communications, and review articles on NPS. The research areas of these contributions may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- The synthesis and structural characterization of emerging NPS;
- The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of NPS;
- Detection and analytical methodologies for identifying NPS;
- Drug checking of NPS;
- NPS identification in forensic and clinical contexts;
- Biomarkers for NPS detection and monitoring;
- Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying NPS toxicity;
- Toxicological profiles and health risks associated with NPS;
- Biological effects of NPS;
- Potential therapeutic applications of NPS.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Helena Gaspar
Dr. Rita Pacheco
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- new psychoactive substances
- synthetic drugs
- metabolism
- toxicology
- drug checking
- designer drugs
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