Molecular imaging for the evaluation of drug-–receptor interactions in psycoactive substances of abuse

The objective of this work is to apply molecular imaging techniques, based on the administration of radioactive tracers in small animal models as a method to investigate the mechanisms of receptor interactions of drugs of abuse. A further objective of the study was to establish, in collaboration with the pharmacology unit of the University of Ferrara, a ‘‘pre-clinical research network’’ able to rapidly investigate the neurobiological mechanisms and the pharmacological effects induced by acute and chronic administration of Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) seized by law enforcement agencies.