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    Currently, there is no known commercially available product for disposing of used fentanyl transdermal patches. To eliminate the potential for harm and abuse, a proper disposal method is needed-one that neutralizes the dangerous amount of residual fentanyl that remains after therapeutic use of the fentanyl patch. The patent-pending liquid solution of activated carbon, known as NarcX® , was investigated as a potential fentanyl adsorbing agent. In order to determine the amount of fentanyl remaining after a patch is treated with NarcX® , here, we utilized hexanes to first dissolve the patch adhesive and then followed with liquid-liquid extraction with methanol to recover the fentanyl. Using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS-MS), the extracts obtained with this method yielded between 85% and 117% recovery of fentanyl from new and unused patches. Further optimization of this method allowed for a quantitative evaluation of NarcX® -treated fentanyl patches. 100 µg/h Apotex brand fentanyl patches were exposed to NarcX® for 1, 24, 48, and 72 h. NarcX® was shown to adsorb fentanyl from the patches with varying degrees of success, demonstrating an average of 66.98 ± 0.75% fentanyl adsorption after 72 h. These findings suggest that more work is needed to successfully neutralize the fentanyl patches in their entirety using NarcX® ; however, this work does demonstrate proof of concept. © 2021 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

    Citation

    Corianna M Palmer, Jeremy R Canfield, Jon E Sprague, Crystal M Oechsle, Travis J Worst. Fentanyl transdermal patches: Extraction and evaluation of a novel disposal method using NarcX®. Journal of forensic sciences. 2022 Jan;67(1):180-187

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    PMID: 34698391

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