Advanced Analgesic Drug Delivery and Nanobiotechnology

Abstract

Transdermal administration of analgesic medications offers several benefits over alternative routes of administration, including a decreased systemic drug load with fewer side effects, and avoidance of drug degradation by the gastrointestinal tract. Transdermal administration also offers a convenient mode of drug administration over an extended period of time, particularly desirable in pain medicine. A transdermal administration route may also offer increased safety for drugs with a narrow therapeutic window. The primary barrier to transdermal drug absorption is the skin itself. Transdermal nanotechnology offers a novel method of achieving enhanced dermal penetration with an extended delivery profile for analgesic drugs, due to their small size and relatively large surface area. Several materials have been used to enhance drug duration and transdermal penetration. The application of nanotechnology in transdermal delivery of analgesics has raised new questions regarding safety and ethical issues. The small molecular size of nanoparticles enables drug delivery to previously inaccessible body sites. To ensure safety, the interaction of nanoparticles with the human body requires further investigation on an individual drug basis, since different formulations have unique properties and side effects.

Fabrication of Alginate-Based O/W Nanoemulsions for Transdermal Drug Delivery of Lidocaine: Influence of the Oil Phase and Surfactant

“…Such applications cause discomfort so alternative routes such as transdermal delivery, have been explored. Lidocaine has a narrow therapeutic index and therefore extended release by TDD may also offer an increased safety profile [ 17 ]. Lidocaine, however, is found to display poor penetrative properties [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Biocompatibility and Pharmacological Effects of Innovative Systems for Prolonged Drug Release Containing Dexketoprofen in Rats

“…Contemporary papers highlight many medical applications of nanotechnology in the pharmaceutical field, given the design of new nanoparticulate systems for the transport and release of active substances, as well as in the field of regenerative medicine (nano-robots and devices used in cell regeneration), in preventive medicine, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases [ 3 ]. Researchers have historically tried to incorporate different agents into nano-systems: thus, analgesic–antipyretic agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or analgesics belonging to the opioid group were loaded into nanoparticles through various methods [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Comparative Evaluation of Selected Polymers and Plasticizer on Transdermal Drug Delivery System

“…There are three routes from which molecules can penetrate the skin: (1) intracellular, (2) intercellular lipids, and (3) appendages. Absorption through the skin is affected by a number of factors including the origin (human, animal), type of skin, physicochemical properties of the compound and formulations, as well as possible skin pretreatment and environmental factors [6][7][8][9].…”