Metabolic fate of drugs of abuse and new psychoactive substances: A pilot study on a novel workflow using a zebrafish embryo model combined with human microdosing.
British journal of clinical pharmacology June 16, 2025 Wellenberg K Simon, Tanja M Gampfer, Wagmann Lea et al. 1 citation
A workflow using zebrafish embryos (ZEs) followed by human microdosing (HMD) can identify human urine biomarkers for drugs of abuse and new psychoactive substances. Metabolites of amphetamine, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, methamphetamine, THC, MDMB-CHMICA, and MDPPP were first identified in ZEs exposed via immersion or injection, then compared with known human metabolites and confirmed by HMD. Both methods identified main human urine metabolites, except for LSD (due to low dose) and cannabinoids (due to low oral bioavailability). ZEs produced more metabolites, including conjugates, than HMD. The approach provides quick, reliable data for urinary drug screening, though challenges remain with HMD, including different administration routes and low-dose detectability.