Nanomedicine in the Use of Opioids: Enhancing Analgesia, Mitigating Harm

Opioids represent one of the oldest classes of drugs in medicine and remain central to pain management to this day. However, their use is limited by a series of adverse effects, and they are notorious for their addiction potential and for contributing to the opioid epidemic in the US. Nanomedicine, the branch of nanotechnology that utilizes materials at the nanoscale for drug delivery, provides a unique platform that can potentially revolutionize conventional opioid treatment. The aim of this literature review is to summarize the latest research on opioid nanoformulations and their potential to increase analgesic efficacy while minimizing associated risks. Preclinical studies have already demonstrated that both liposomal and dendrimer-based opioid formulations allow for extended release and, consequently, more prolonged and stable analgesia. Moreover, nanoemulsions are currently being investigated for the delivery of opioid compounds, offering formulation versatility and improved bioavailability while maintaining an improved safety profile. At the same time, the use of nanomedicine for vaccines against opioids may enable novel therapeutic strategies to be developed for individuals with opioid addiction. However, several barriers need to be overcome for the promise of nanomedicine to be fulfilled, including the lack of clinical trials, difficulties in mass production of several nanoparticles, toxicity concerns, and regulatory issues.