Stella Trickett stands in the lab and holds a pipette as she smiles at the camera.

Research Offers New Hope for Overdose Patients

By Kirsten Heuring Email Kirsten Heuring

Heidi Opdyke

Activated charcoal works like a sponge to soak up poisons from many drug overdoses. But the 200-year-old remedy can cause vomiting and gastrointestinal issues, and when accidentally inhaled, it leads to inflammation in the lungs.

Carnegie Mellon University student researchers, including recent graduate Stella Trickett, are working to find alternative treatments for non-opioid drug overdoses with fewer side effects.

Trickett, who graduated with a major in chemistry on the biological chemistry track and a minor in biomedical engineering, started working in Associate Professor of Chemistry Stefanie Sydlik's lab in 2022 under the guidance of chemistry doctoral candidate Hunter Wood.

"I like to work on things that I could see having a potential impact with people, especially in the health realm," Trickett said. "I decided to choose research with a biomedical focus."

Wood is leading efforts to create a polypeptide — a compound formed by amino acids — capable of binding to the same drugs as activated charcoal. Though overdose treatments have advanced for drugs like opioids, activated charcoal is still the standard for non-opioid substances such as antidepressants and over-the-counter painkillers.

"The point of the polypeptides is to make a more biocompatible alternative to activated charcoal," Trickett said. "I've gotten to develop different materials by trying out different molecular composition to see what is the best at absorbing materials."

The polypeptide Trickett worked on absorbs a range of compounds, including antidepressants, hydroxychloroquine and rat poison, in both simulated stomach and intestinal environments. She also confirmed that the polypeptide does not damage cells.

"The newest generation of polymers we created were able to absorb a few of the drugs tested just as much as activated charcoal. That was a breakthrough," Trickett said.

Trickett joined the lab as part of Summer Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship (SURA), and Sydlik said she was a valued member.

"Stella is a great team player and always kept Hunter on his toes and thinking critically about next steps while challenging him," Sydlik said.

The polypeptide still has to go through further testing and clinical trials before potentially being used by doctors. Trickett said that she was excited that her research has the potential to change how overdoses are treated.

For her efforts, Trickett earned the Judith A. Resnik Award. Named for Carnegie Mellon alumna and astronaut Judith Resnik, the award honors an exceptional senior woman graduating from a technical course of study. Sydlik, a former Resnik awardee herself, said Trickett was well-deserving of the recognition.

"Stella is smart, motivated and a great multitasker," Sydlik said. "Her work will lead to three co-authored publications that are in review."

In the fall, Trickett will begin her Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She said that she hopes to continue creating materials that can improve people's health.

"It's really important that the work I do has some larger biomedical application," Trickett said. "It's really satisfying for me to see that direct impact."