New aspects of controlled release systems for local anaesthetics: AÂ review

Pharmacological pain control and management applied in this medical area represent the gold goal for anaesthesia and intensive care units. One of the most common methods for pain control is the use of opioids. However, there are a number of complications and side effects induced by prolonged systemic administration of opioids, such as nausea, vomiting, respiratory depression, drowsiness and cellular dysfunction. In order to minimize or even remove these side effects, a number of other methods have been studied for anaesthesia or analgesia. Thus, great progress has been made in the last decades and one of the most studied methods is based on nanosystems capable of a controlled release of the active compound. In anaesthesia, a range of controlled release systems for local anaesthetics have been developed, able to maintain anaesthesia/analgesia for an extended period of time. Moreover, by using these controlled release systems, some of the side effects of conventional therapies have been removed. In this paper we present an update in terms of controlled release systems of local anaesthetics and future outcomes regarding this topic.