Non-Opioid Patch For Post Surgery Pain by Pooja Shete on January 15, 2021 at 8:03 PM
Scientists have developed a bio-compatible surgical patch that releases non-opioid painkillers directly to the site of a wound for days and then dissolves. The polymer patch provides a controlled release of a drug that blocks the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). This enzyme drives pain and inflammation.
The study led by scientists at Duke University is published in the
Journal of Controlled Release.
Author of the paper, Matthew Becker, the Hugo L. Blomquist professor chemistry at Duke said, We were making hernia meshes and different antimicrobial films. 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.