Researchers at Augusta University have identified a new way to treat fentanyl addiction using cannabidiol (CBD)-based therapy. The new study, published in “Cannabidiol reverses fentanyl-induced addiction and modulates neuroinflammation,” by bioRxiv at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, shows that the opioid epidemic that has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans and offers a promising alternative approach to combat.
Dr. Babak Baban, a neuroimmunologist and associate dean for research at the Georgia College of Dentistry, is a pioneer in the medical use of CBD. Dr. Baban partnered with Dr. Philip Wang, a neuroscientist at the Medical College of Georgia Department of Neurology, to co-lead a collaborative research effort that sheds new light on effective treatments for fentanyl addiction.
The United States is facing an opioid epidemic that has claimed the lives of more than 645,000 Americans from 1999 to 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Since 2018, nearly 250,000 Americans have died from opioid overdose.
At the center of the opioid epidemic is fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a synthetic drug first developed in 1959 and introduced in the 1960s as an analgesic and anesthetic to relieve pain. It is estimated to be about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. Just 2 milligrams of fentanyl can kill a human. Fentanyl can become even more dangerous when mixed with other drugs in powder form, primarily cocaine and methamphetamine.
“Our methods are not only effective, but also easy to apply, allowing individuals to safely navigate the road to recovery with minimal supervision. This is an important step in addressing significant social and health impacts.”
Dr. Babak Baban
When studying mouse models of fentanyl addiction, the AU team found that fentanyl dramatically increases neuroinflammation and profoundly alters innate lymphocytes (ILCs), which are part of the brain's innate immunity. With increasing evidence that neuroinflammation and ILCs are involved in the maintenance and regulation of central nervous system (CNS) function, researchers believe that changes in the CNS immune system may also play a role in fentanyl-induced maladaptation. We hypothesized that this may be important.
Baban and Wang had previously shown that CBD could reduce neuroinflammation and reverse ILC changes, so they decided to apply a similar approach to fentanyl addiction. Through research, they found that CBD treatment significantly reversed both the progression of neuroinflammation and many addiction-related behaviors.
“The association between neuroinflammation, particularly ILC changes, and addiction is somewhat surprising and of great interest, as most laboratories primarily focus on the neural and synaptic plasticity mechanisms of fentanyl addiction. “,” Wang said. “This study helps improve our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms that maintain drug addiction. Inflammation and ILCs contribute to learning and memory at the behavioral level, neuroplasticity at the synaptic and neural network level, and reward at the anatomical level. There is clearly a lot to learn about how to interact with pathways.”
The “palatability index chart” shows that the palatability index for fentanyl decreased significantly from +0.27 to -0.09 after treatment with inhaled CBD.
Traditional treatments for fentanyl addiction target and attempt to normalize the opiate receptor-dependent signaling that fentanyl alters. In addition to drug therapy, it should also be combined with appropriate psychosocial treatment.
In a groundbreaking study, Baban and Wang identified a strong link between addiction and inflammation and hypothesized that increased inflammation may significantly contribute to the development of addiction. . Based on this important insight, they tested the effectiveness of a CBD-based mixture specifically formulated to reduce inflammation in reducing fentanyl addiction in a mouse model.
“This study helps improve our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms that maintain drug addiction. Inflammation and ILCs contribute to learning and memory at the behavioral level, neuroplasticity at the synaptic and neural network level, and reward at the anatomical level. There is clearly a lot to learn about how to interact with pathways.”
Dr. Philip Wang
Compared to conventional treatments, CBD treatment exhibits a very safe profile and requires less professional supervision, making it potentially a viable solution for rural areas. Baban and Wang emphasize the importance of further patient studies to validate and refine their results before translating them into effective clinical treatments.
“Our method is not only effective, but also easy to apply, allowing individuals to safely progress on the road to recovery with minimal supervision,” Baban said. “This is an important step in addressing the wide-ranging social and health implications of this prevalent problem. We are very excited to help solve this problem and are pleased that this brings hope for relief on both an individual and societal level.”
Dr. Philip Wang, Dr. Sahar Emami Naini. Bidhan Bhandari. Dr. Evira Salles. and Dr. Babak Baban (Michael Holohan/Augusta University)
Baban and Wang were joined by co-lead authors Bidhan Bhandari, a research assistant at AU, and Henrique Chagas, a visiting scientist, as well as Sahar Emami Naeini, MD, and Ebira López-Sales, DSC. Participated. DCG's Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences.
Their research is consistent with previous successes, including a 2023 study published in the journal Human Cell that demonstrated the effectiveness of inhaled CBD in treating lung cancer.
Mr. Baban and Mr. Wang are co-founders of Medicinal Cannabis of Georgia, LLC, an Augusta-based biomedical research and development company. Working with a team of researchers from Augusta University and Thriftmaster Holding Group, Mr. Baban and Mr. Wang developed an innovative product with the potential to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of people suffering from fentanyl addiction. brought about a discovery.
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