A wide range of systems have been used to deliver drugs to peripheral nerve, usually to extend the duration of local anesthesia, i.e. to treat pain. Here we will discuss the role of nanoscience in this application, comparing it to the effects that can be achieved with non-nanoscale systems. Nanoscale systems can enable on-demand analgesia triggered by external energy sources, allowing patient control of the onset, intensity, and duration of local pain relief. The tissue depth at which local anesthetic effect can be triggered by external stimuli depends on many variables; a crucial one is the sensitivity of the delivery system to the stimulus. Nanoparticles of an appropriate size can penetrate directly into nerve, allowing delivery of drugs that would usually have difficulty getting in.

Nanoparticle-based approaches to drug delivery to peripheral nerve for pain and other conditions

256th National Meeting (2018)

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