Pain management using nanotechnology approaches

Abstract

The proper treatment of pain is yet a major medical challenge. To obtain a long-term analgesia action, opioid therapy is the gold standard therapy for overcoming a chronic pain. Nanotechnology focus on formulating therapeutic agents encapsulated in a biocompatible nanocarriers (∼10–200 nanometer), these include but not limited to nanoparticles, liposomes and nanocapsules, micelles, dendrimers and nanotubes. This review gives an overview of current strategies of pain treatment with the help of the knowledge of nanotechnology. In addition, the applications of nano-innovation in oxidative therapy, genotoxicity and immunogenicity, are elucidated.