Nanotechnolgy For Nerve Pain: Such A Promising Development

Friday 3 November 2017

Nanotechnolgy For Nerve Pain: Such A Promising Development

Today's post from eurekalert.org (see link below) reveals a very interesting development in the treatment of neuropathic pain and that is the use of nanotechnology to deliver a derived cannabinoid, which provides long-lasting pain relief from nerve damage. First of all, we have to understand what nanotechnology is. Nanotechnology has nothing to do with tiny robots crawling through your body (not yet anyway) but is the manipulation of any matter at a tiny, molecular, atomic or sub-molecular level. In this case, a certain cannabinoid can be delivered orally and bring about up to 10 days nerve pain relief (at least in mice). It bypasses the blood-brain barrier, so has no psychoactive effect (some will be disappointed and some relieved!). Well worth a read because the idea is so attractive to long term neuropathy patients having to get by on their pain killers. The only problem is, that we're still at the testing on rodents stage and how often have we heard that before, only to find that nothing emerges at the end of the process. Fingers crossed then!

New patent will allow for the relief of chronic neuropathic pain
University of Seville Public Release: 27-Oct-2017

IMAGE: University of Seville and GB Sciences Inc. members meet to license the patent. view more Credit: University of Seville

The researchers Lucía Martín Banderas and Mercedes Fernández Arévalo, from the I+DNanomed research group at the University of Seville, have patented an innovative formulation based on nanotechnology, which is designed to relieve chronic neuropathic pain. The company GB Sciences, Inc. has obtained the exclusive global intellectual property licence for the use of this patent.

This research group, in collaboration with the researchers J.A. Micó and E. Berrocoso, of the University of Cadiz and the Mental Health Networking Biomedical Research Centre (CIBERSAM), has shown that its formulation of controlled liberation of a derived cannabinoid provides neuropathic pain relief in rats for a period of eleven days after the oral administration of a single dose. Part of the results of this project have recently been published in the review Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine.

Within the framework of this global licensing agreement, the University of Seville research group I+DNanomed, led by Dr Mercedes Fernández Arévalo, has signed an agreement to work on research projects with the company for the development of innovative formulations based on polymer nanoparticles with active ingredients developed by GB Sciences for the treatment of chronic pain.

The University of Seville researchers' creation makes it possible, via the use of nanotechnology, to encapsulate the main active ingredients in a polymer matrix composite. In this way, it is possible to extend the therapeutic effect while reducing the dose of medicine it is necessary to administer. In addition, the active ingredients cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, which removes any potential psychoactive effect.

GB Sciences has highlighted the advance that the development of this technique signifies. The contribution of the University of Seville researchers Mercedes Fernández Arévalo and Lucía Martín Banderas to the development of new more effective systems for the development of type of molecule, based on nanotechnology, is going to mean a very important advance in the treatment of chronic pain. According to one of the company's managers, "Their system has proven to be more effective than other methods, such as inhalation or ingestion, for administering these composites".

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.

Media Contact

Mercédez Fernández Arévalo
dsinves@us.es

@unisevilla

http://www.us.es

More on this News Release

New patent will allow for the relief of chronic neuropathic pain

University of Seville JournalNanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine

Translations

Español