Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated01:30

Modified-Release Drug Delivery Systems: Stimuli-Activated

115
Stimuli-activated drug delivery systems are designed to release drugs in response to specific physical, chemical, or biological stimuli. These systems often utilize hydrogels—three-dimensional, hydrophilic polymer networks capable of swelling in aqueous environments and retaining significant fluid volumes. Upon exposure to particular stimuli, these hydrogels undergo structural transitions that allow the embedded drug to be released. Due to this adaptive behavior, such systems are also...
115
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia01:16

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

1.9K
Intravenous regional anesthesia or the Bier block technique is used to anesthetize a specific limb or extremity. It uses exsanguinated or blood-drained vessels to transport local anesthetics or LAs to the peripheral nerve trunks. Lidocaine without vasoconstrictors like epinephrine is most commonly used for this technique. Other drugs used are prilocaine, ropivacaine, and chloroprocaine. Bupivacaine is not recommended for this technique due to its high cardiac toxicity.
One of the advantages of...
1.9K
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia01:11

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Spinal Anesthesia

1.9K
Spinal anesthetics are given during lower abdomen and limb surgeries to block sensory and motor neurons. They are administered in the mid to low lumbar regions, primarily acting on the cauda equina's nerve roots. The blockade level depends on the local anesthetic (LA) concentration. Usually, low LA concentrations are sufficient to block sensory fibers, while only high LA concentrations block motor fibers. Other factors like injection volume and speed, the patient's posture, and the drug...
1.9K
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia01:29

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Epidural Anesthesia

960
Epidural anesthetics are administered in the fat-filled epidural space, the outermost part of the spinal canal. This technique is commonly employed for pain management and anesthesia during lower abdomen and pelvis surgeries or labor and delivery.
Since epidural anesthetics can be infused through an epidural catheter, all types of drugs, including short-acting ones, can be administered. Chloroprocaine and lidocaine are examples of short and long-duration anesthetics, respectively. Bupivacaine...
960
Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers01:24

Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers

1.7K
Local anesthetics (LAs) block the sodium channels of nerve trunks, sensory nerve endings, and neuromuscular junctions. Although LAs can block all kinds of nerves, the sensitivity of nerve fibers differs according to nerve types and structures. LAs are known to block myelinated fibers faster than unmyelinated ones. Also, they block pain or sensory neurons at low concentrations without affecting the motor neurons involved in muscle contractions. This helps relieve labor pain without affecting the...
1.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Computation-driven discovery of novel chromone derivatives for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer <i>via</i> mTOR-targeted inhibition and triggering antitumor immunity.

Acta pharmaceutica Sinica. B·2026
Same author

Chitosan-coated and sodium phytate-crosslinked porous starch microspheres for oral delivery of celastrol in colitis therapy.

International journal of biological macromolecules·2026
Same author

Pulmonary mRNA-LNP vaccines for rapid and durable protection against bacterial infection.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Sensory-selective Sciatic Nerve Block with 2',6' Pipecolylxylidine in an Ovine Model.

Anesthesiology·2026
Same author

Hydroxyl-Terminated Polyethylene Glycol Evades Human Pre-existing Anti-polyethylene Glycol Antibodies.

ACS nano·2026
Same author

Dexamethasone ameliorates dermatologic adverse effects of PEGylated liposomal doxorubicin.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat
07:58

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Published on: November 21, 2025

275

Repeatable and adjustable on-demand sciatic nerve block with phototriggerable liposomes.

Alina Y Rwei1, Jung-Jae Lee2, Changyou Zhan2

  • 1Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139;

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|December 9, 2015
PubMed
Summary

This study introduces novel near-infrared light-triggered liposomes for on-demand local anesthesia. These liposomes allow patients to control the timing, intensity, and duration of pain relief using tetrodotoxin (TTX).

Keywords:
lightnear infraredpainphotosensitizersite 1 sodium-channel blocker

More Related Videos

An Ultrasonic Tool for Nerve Conduction Block in Diabetic Rat Models
10:27

An Ultrasonic Tool for Nerve Conduction Block in Diabetic Rat Models

Published on: October 20, 2017

7.9K
Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies
08:16

Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies

Published on: October 6, 2022

8.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat
07:58

Electrophysiological Methods to Assess Peripheral Pain Block in an Anesthetized Rat

Published on: November 21, 2025

275
An Ultrasonic Tool for Nerve Conduction Block in Diabetic Rat Models
10:27

An Ultrasonic Tool for Nerve Conduction Block in Diabetic Rat Models

Published on: October 20, 2017

7.9K
Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies
08:16

Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies

Published on: October 6, 2022

8.3K

Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Current pain management lacks patient-controlled local anesthesia.
  • Need for adjustable anesthesia with precise control over onset, intensity, and duration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered liposomes for on-demand adjustable local anesthesia.
  • To encapsulate tetrodotoxin (TTX) within photo-labile liposomes for controlled release.

Main Methods:

  • Liposomes were formulated with TTX and a NIR-triggerable photosensitizer.
  • Photo-lability was induced by encapsulating the photosensitizer, enabling drug release upon 730 nm irradiation.
  • In vitro drug release and cytotoxicity were assessed.
  • In vivo studies evaluated the duration and control of nerve blockade in animal models.

Main Results:

  • NIR irradiation triggered repeatable release of TTX from liposomes in vitro.
  • Formulations showed no cytotoxicity in cell cultures.
  • In vivo, liposomes provided an initial nerve block of 13.5 ± 3.1 hours.
  • Subsequent NIR irradiation allowed for inducible, controlled nerve blockade periods.

Conclusions:

  • NIR light-triggered liposomes offer a promising platform for on-demand, adjustable local anesthesia.
  • This technology enables precise control over the timing, intensity, and duration of nerve blockade.
  • The formulation demonstrated a benign tissue reaction and controlled drug release, enhancing patient-controlled pain management.