Using Multi-Modal Spectroscopic and Biomedical Approaches for Fentanyl Detection

At Pittcon 2026, in San Antonio, Texas, several talks took place that highlighted the applicability of spectroscopic techniques in applications such as biological, clinical, and medical analysis. One of those talks, “Multi-Modal Spectroscopic and Biochemical Approaches for Fentanyl Detection: Integrating Raman, ATR-FTIR, and Enzyme Kinetics Analysis,” demonstrated how protein structures can be altered by fentanyl exposure, and how attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy can be used to analyze fentanyl detection.¹

This talk was delivered Dr. Lenka Halámková, who is an assistant professor of high-dimensional data analysis at Texas Tech University. Her research focuses on applying machine learning and multivariate statistical methods to vibrational spectroscopic data for forensic and biomedical applications.² Her work includes developing techniques to detect and classify biological stains, gunshot residue, and other trace evidence, as well as using enzymatic sensors and biochemical computing to analyze biological markers associated with characteristics such as sex and ethnicity.² She also studies enzyme inhibition mechanisms and develops rapid diagnostic approaches, including Raman spectroscopy–based methods for detecting Chronic Wasting Disease in wildlife.²

Halámková’s talk at Pittcon explored how fentanyl exposure produces molecular changes in the body and how these changes can be detected using spectroscopic techniques. By analyzing human nail samples from clinically validated subjects using Raman and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with machine learning classification, Halámková showed how her team achieved high donor-level accuracy in detecting fentanyl exposure.¹

To further understand the molecular basis of these spectroscopic signatures, the team studied butyrylcholinesterase as a model protein system, examining how fentanyl analogues affect enzyme function through kinetic analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed mixed enzyme inhibition and clear structural differences between active and inhibited protein states.¹ These findings suggest that fentanyl exposure can alter protein structures beyond its primary neural receptors, affecting keratin formation in growing nails and enabling reliable spectroscopic detection in biological matrices.¹

In this video, Halámková provides a concise summary of her talk.

Spectroscopy will be continuing to provide coverage of the Pittcon 2026 conference on an ongoing basis as we report back from San Antonio. You can stay up to date with our coverage of the Pittcon 2026 conference here.

References

1. Halamkova, L. Multi-Modal Spectroscopic and Biochemical Approaches for Fentanyl Detection: Integrating Raman, ATR-FTIR, and Enzyme Kinetics Analysis. Presented at Pittcon 2026, in San Antonio, Texas. Available at: https://app.swapcard.com/event/pittcon-2026/planning/UGxhbm5pbmdfNDM0Mjc5MQ==
2. Texas Tech University, Lenka Halamkova, Ph.D. TTU.edu. Available at: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/entx/Department/Personnel/Faculty/Lenka_Halamkova.php (accessed 2026-03-11).