Recent advances in polymer-based drug delivery systems for local anesthetics

Local anesthetics, which cause temporary loss of pain by inhibiting the transmission of nerve impulses, have been widely used in clinical practice. However, neurotoxicity and short half-lives have significantly limited their clinical applications. To overcome those barriers, numerous drug delivery systems (DDS) have been designed to encapsulate local anesthetic agents, so that large doses can be released slowly and provide analgesia over a prolonged period. So far, multiple classes of local anesthetic carriers have been investigated, with some of them already on the market. Among those, polymer-based delivery platforms are the most extensively explored, especially in the form of polymeric nanoparticle carriers. This review gives a specific focus on the most commonly used natural and synthetic polymers for local anesthetics delivery, owing to their excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability and versatility. State-of-the-art studies concerning such polymer delivery systems have been discussed in depth. We also highlight the impact of those delivery platforms as well as some key challenges that need to be overcome for their broader clinical applications. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Currently, local anesthetics have been widely used in clinically practices to prevent transmission of nerve impulses. However, the applications of anesthetics are greatly limited due to their neurotoxicity and short half-lives. Moreover, it is difficult to maintain frequent administrations which can cause poor compliance and serious consequences. Numerous drug delivery systems have been developed to solve those issues. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in polymer-based drug delivery systems for local anesthetics. The advantages as well as shortcomings for different types of polymer-based drug delivery systems are summarized in this paper. In the end, we also give prospects for future development of polymer drug delivery systems for anesthetics.