Charles Decker
Pronouns: He/Him
Research Mentor(s): Jessica Anand
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Pharmacology / Medicine
Program:
Authors: Charlie Decker, Sierra Moore, Jessica Anand
Session: Session 3: 11:00 am – 11: 50 am
Poster: 22
Abstract
The opioid epidemic has ravaged society in recent years, with no drug being more destructive than fentanyl which kills over 150 people every day. (CDC, 2023) Fentanyl works by binding to and stimulating the mu opioid receptor, but its chemical structure is vastly different from other opioids such as morphine and heroin. For instance, fentanyl is lighter than heroin and does not contain the characteristic bridged ring structure like morphine. These differences allow fentanyl to reach the brain quickly and not be metabolized. (Taylor et. al, 2023) Narcan (active ingredient naloxone), also binds to the mu-opioid receptor, but blocks it instead of activating it, reversing an opioid overdose. However, Narcan reaches the brain slower and stays in the body shorter than fentanyl, so while it effectively mimics the tactics of other opioids, it does not do the same with fentanyl. We hypothesize that these differences are why Narcan is less effective when combatting fentanyl overdoses as it is too short-acting and gets metabolized quickly (Nida, 2021). We hope to discover a novel treatment for fentanyl overdoses that mimics fentanyl’s speed of onset, duration, and brain penetrance, but acts like a rescue treatment like Narcan. Fentanyl has been observed to drop saturated oxygen levels, which hurts cell viability and is a key cause of overdose-related death. To test novel rescue agents, we use CD-1 mice and measured their saturated oxygen after being exposed to fentanyl. We then attempted to reverse fentanyl-induced changes in saturated oxygen. We have found that without any rescue treatment, the mice experience a significant drop in saturated O2, and we predict that the rescue treatments will reverse this drop and allow saturated O2 levels to return to normal, reversing the overdose. A treatment that effectively reverses saturated oxygen levels will be a key weapon in fighting what has become the deadliest opioid in our current epidemic.
