Trial lecture - time and place
10.09.2026, 10:15, Auditorium 3, ZEB-bygningen
"Polysaccharides in pharmaceutical formulations"
Conferral summary
Postoperativ smertelindring med lokal anestetika er komplisert grunnen den korte retensjonen på administrasjonsstedet, og dermed, den korte virkningstiden. Denne avhandlingen viser at innkapsling av lokal anestetika i injiserbare hydrogeler kan legge til rette for bedre lokal retensjon og kontrollert frisetting over noen dager. Resultater fra en in vivo dyrestudie utført på sau antyder at hydrogelene kan anvendes som en perifer nerveblokkade.
Main research findings
Despite the rapidly growing comprehension of both physiology and pharmacology, pain treatment may still be invasive and generate cascades of events resulting in impaired health. An example is suppression of postoperative pain in surgical settings, which is routinely effectuated by repeated injections of local anesthetics. These demanding treatment protocols for patients and clinicians underscore the need for more user-friendly solutions.
This work shows that injectable hydrogels can be well-suited carriers for local anesthetics, and therefore capable of reducing the dosage frequency. The hydrogels were prepared from stimuli-responsive polymers, materials that gel upon a certain stimulus such as ions or temperature. The gelling was initiated right before injection in case of ionic crosslinking, or after injection for thermoresponsive systems. Controlled release during several days, obtained in in vitro experiments, translated into a clear clinical effect in vivo. The peripheral nerve block simulation on a large animal model implied great potential for prospective administration in humans.
The developed hydrogels could expand the use of local anesthetics to the management of chronic pain as well. In general, the hydrogel carriers could be suitable for any indication that would benefit from local drug delivery.