Bioresorbable crosslinked hyaluronic acid-based hydrogel loaded with a local anesthetic for injection at surgical sites to control pain without use of opioid medications for up to 7 days.

Opioids remain the primary analgesic for post-operative pain even though they can cause nausea, constipation, respiratory depression, addiction, and other issues that can contribute to extended hospitalization and associated healthcare costs.

University of Utah researchers have developed an injectable drug delivery technology that can release nerve blocking agents over an extended period of time locally at the site of injury to reduce pain. The duration of the therapeutic effect can be modified to deliver drug for up to 7 days. Once the anesthetic is released, the drug delivery system will degrade and be resorbed over a period of 1-2 weeks and leave behind minimal fibrosis and inflammation.

Pre-Clinical Validation

• Hyaluronic Acid promotes wound healing and is bioresorbable
• Reduced need for systemics opioids and the risks of associated side effects
• Release rate of local anesthetic is modifiable based on desired duration (up to 7 days)
• Injured area can be targeted by using physical palpation to move the gel around to the injured region.

Davis B, et al. (2020). Entrapping bupivacaine-loaded emulsions in a crosslinked-hydrogel increases anesthetic effect and duration in a rat sciatic nerve block model. Int J Pharm. 15, 588: 119703. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2020.119703. 

Jason Young
(801) 587-0519
jason.r.young@utah.edu