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DURHAM, N.C. - A Duke-led team of scientists has developed a bio-compatible surgical patch that releases non-opioid painkillers directly to the site of a wound for days and then dissolves away.
The polymer patch provides a controlled release of a drug that blocks the enzyme COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2,) which drives pain and inflammation. The study appears Jan. 10, 2021 in the
Journal of Controlled Release.
When they started We were making hernia meshes and different antimicrobial films, said Matthew Becker, the Hugo L. Blomquist professor chemistry at Duke, and last author on the paper. We thought you could potentially put pain drugs or anesthetics in the film if you just sew it in as you re stitching the person up, then you wouldn t necessarily have to prescribe any opioids, Becker said.