An on-demand anesthetic that would only take effect when needed and where the intensity of anesthesia could be easily adjustable according to patients’ needs would be highly desirable. Here, we designed and synthesized a macromolecular prodrug (P407-CM-T) in which the local anesthetic tetracaine was attached to the polymer poloxamer 407 (P407) via a photocleavable coumarin linkage. P407-CM-T solution was injectable at low temperature and gelled near body temperature. The macromolecular prodrug showed no anesthetic effect itself unless irradiated with a low-power blue light emitting diode (LED), resulting in local anesthesia. By adjusting the intensity and duration of irradiation, the anesthetic effect could be modulated. Local anesthesia could be repeatedly triggered

Light-triggered release of conventional local anesthetics from a macromolecular prodrug for on-demand local anesthesia

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.