Closing the Gap Between Novel Drug Emergence and Legal Scheduling

At the upcoming American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall 2026 Meeting, there will be several talks given that revolve around novel psychoactive substances and how spectroscopy is helping advance numerous application areas in pharmaceutical and forensic analysis.¹ One of these talks, titled “Spectroscopy- and Bioprinting-based Multidimensional Predictive Toxicological Assessment of Novel Psychoactive Substances,” will be delivered by Rui Huang, a researcher from Southwest University of Political Science and Law. In his talk, Huang will present a new methodology that combines spectroscopy, three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting, and explainable artificial intelligence (AI) to speed up identification and toxicity assessment of novel psychoactive substances, addressing a persistent lag between the appearance of new street drugs and their legal control.²

Huang’s talk will take place on Monday, August 24, from 9:25 to 9:50 a.m. at McCormick Place Convention Center. This talk is important because it covers a well-documented problem in forensic and regulatory science: NPS are chemically modified faster than authorities can test and schedule them, and existing identification methods depend on reference standards that may not yet exist for newly synthesized compounds.²

What are some of the details of the methodology Huang will present in his talk?

Huang’s proposed system integrates Raman spectroscopic data with quantum-chemical priors and explainable AI to identify and structurally characterize unknown substances found in complex samples, without requiring prior reference material.² Unlike conventional machine-learning (ML) tools, which Huang's describes in his abstract as functioning as "black boxes," the explainable AI component is intended to produce results that can be verified and defended in court, which is a requirement for forensic evidence to be admissible.²

Meanwhile, on the toxicology side, the framework Huang will describe in his talk replaces slower animal- and cell-culture-based testing with in vitro 3D bioprinting and microfluidic "biomimetic" models designed to more quickly predict how a substance affects human tissue.² In addition, molecular simulation and spatiotemporal deep-learning networks are then used to connect a compound's structural features to its molecular targets and toxic effects.²

Why should forensic chemists and toxicologists attend this talk?

Forensic chemists and toxicologists could potentially gain new insight into assessing novel psychoactive substances, particularly when it comes to accelerating this process. Currently, the interval between a new substance's appearance and its formal hazard classification can span months or years, during which the drug remains legally unregulated even as it circulates.² A validated, interpretable pipeline that shortens both chemical identification and toxicological evaluation could allow regulatory agencies to schedule dangerous compounds faster and give forensic labs stronger evidentiary grounds when cases reach court.²

The presentation is one of several NPS-focused talks at this year's ACS meeting reflecting broader interest in analytical chemistry as a tool against synthetic drug proliferation.

What is the American Chemical Society Fall 2026 Meeting and what is the theme of this conference?

ACS is hosting its Fall 2026 conference in Chicago from August 23 to 27, marking the organization’s 150th anniversary. This major event at McCormick Place features a morning symposium with four Nobel Laureates discussing advancements in fields like lithium batteries and super-resolution microscopy. For spectroscopists and analytical chemists, the technical program offers specialized sessions on technological innovations, ranging from mass spectrometry (MS) to laser techniques in quantum materials.¹ Attendees can participate in a Career Fair, explore an extensive Expo, or join via a digital platform for remote access. The meeting serves as a global hub for over 10,000 professionals to network and share research under the theme "Chemists Making History."¹

References

1. Wetzel, W. Why Spectroscopists Should Attend the ACS Fall 2026 Conference. Spectroscopy Online, 2026. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/why-spectroscopists-should-attend-the-acs-fall-2026-conference (accessed July 13, 2026).
2. Huang, R. Spectroscopy- and Bioprinting-based Multidimensional Predictive Toxicological Assessment of Novel Psychoactive Substances. Presented at the American Chemical Society Fall 2026 Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, August 24, 2026. Available at: https://acs.digitellinc.com/live/37/page/1374?search=spectroscopy&window-s6xoii