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

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids01:15

Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids

271
Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids are pivotal in pain management and tackling opioid addiction. Semisynthetic opioids, including morphinans (morphine derivatives), oxycodone, oxymorphone, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone, have improved pharmacokinetic profiles compared to morphine. Additionally, heroin and 6-MAM (6-Monoacetylmorphine) show better CNS penetration than morphine due to heightened lipid solubility. Hydromorphone, a potent opioid, undergoes hepatic metabolism to form the active...
271
Opioid Receptors: Overview01:22

Opioid Receptors: Overview

704
Opioid receptors, including the mu (μ, MOR), delta (δ, DOR), and kappa (κ, KOR) types, belong to the rhodopsin family of G protein-coupled receptors. These receptors are located throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal tissues such as macrophages and astrocytes. Opioid receptor ligands can be categorized into agonists or antagonists. Highly selective agonists include [d-Ala2, MePhe4, Gly(ol)5]-enkephalin or DAMGO for MOR, [D-Pen2,...
704
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

568
Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
568
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena01:15

Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena

463
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not...
463
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents01:17

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

188
Diarrhea, a condition marked by frequent loose or watery bowel movements, can be triggered by multiple factors such as viral or bacterial infections, food intolerances, anxiety, medications, and digestive disorders. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and cramping. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to complications like electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and dehydration if left untreated.
Opioids, widely used antidiarrheal agents, mitigate diarrhea by slowing down...
188

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Effects of repeated nalfurafine and VZTK35 treatments on fentanyl/cocaine mixture self-administration in a rat drug-vs.-food choice procedure.

Psychopharmacology·2026
Same author

Strengthening pediatric surgical readiness: outcomes of a needs-directed short course for non-specialist physicians in Rwanda.

BMC surgery·2025
Same author

Oral Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of a Microemulsion-Based Delivery System for Novel A190 Prodrugs.

Biomolecules·2025
Same author

Novel oral LAAM immediate-release capsules for treating opioid use disorder.

International journal of pharmaceutics·2025
Same author

Chronic adolescent stress attenuates morphine-induced antinociception and central amygdala neuronal activation in adult Wistar rats.

Physiology & behavior·2025
Same author

Sustained release of a novel non-fibrate PPARα agonist from microparticles for neuroprotection in murine models of age-related macular degeneration.

Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Formulating and Characterizing Lipid Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery using a Microfluidic Mixing Platform
09:41

Formulating and Characterizing Lipid Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery using a Microfluidic Mixing Platform

Published on: February 25, 2021

23.0K

Nor-LAAM loaded PLGA microparticles for treating opioid use disorder.

Diane Ingabire1, Chaolong Qin2, Tuo Meng2

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; Department of Pharmaceutics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.

Journal of Controlled Release : Official Journal of the Controlled Release Society
|July 5, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed sustained-release nor-Levo-α-acetylmethadol (nor-LAAM) microparticles to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). This novel formulation reduced fentanyl use and withdrawal symptoms in animal models, offering a promising new OUD treatment.

Keywords:
Drug abuseFentanyl-vs-food choiceHydrophobic ion pairing (HIP)PharmacokineticsSustained delivery

More Related Videos

PLGA Nanoparticles Formed by Single- or Double-emulsion with Vitamin E-TPGS
12:48

PLGA Nanoparticles Formed by Single- or Double-emulsion with Vitamin E-TPGS

Published on: December 27, 2013

65.3K
Intra-lymph Node Injection of Biodegradable Polymer Particles
09:06

Intra-lymph Node Injection of Biodegradable Polymer Particles

Published on: January 2, 2014

14.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Formulating and Characterizing Lipid Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery using a Microfluidic Mixing Platform
09:41

Formulating and Characterizing Lipid Nanoparticles for Gene Delivery using a Microfluidic Mixing Platform

Published on: February 25, 2021

23.0K
PLGA Nanoparticles Formed by Single- or Double-emulsion with Vitamin E-TPGS
12:48

PLGA Nanoparticles Formed by Single- or Double-emulsion with Vitamin E-TPGS

Published on: December 27, 2013

65.3K
Intra-lymph Node Injection of Biodegradable Polymer Particles
09:06

Intra-lymph Node Injection of Biodegradable Polymer Particles

Published on: January 2, 2014

14.5K

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology and Drug Delivery
  • Neuroscience
  • Addiction Medicine

Background:

  • Opioid use disorder (OUD) presents significant challenges due to limited medication efficacy and high overdose risks.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies are crucial for improving OUD treatment outcomes and patient well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the therapeutic potential of nor-Levo-α-acetylmethadol (nor-LAAM) for treating OUD.
  • To develop and characterize sustained-release nor-LAAM-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MP).

Main Methods:

  • Developed nor-LAAM-loaded PLGA MPs using a hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP) approach with pamoic acid.
  • Optimized MPs for particle size, drug loading, and release kinetics, identifying a lead formulation (F4).
  • Evaluated in vitro sustained release for 4 weeks and in vivo plasma levels in rabbits for 15 days post-injection.

Main Results:

  • HIP method yielded nor-LAAM MPs with high drug loading, minimal initial burst release, and sustained release.
  • Lead formulation (F4) showed 11 wt% drug loading, 19 μm diameter, and sustained release over 4 weeks.
  • Single subcutaneous injection of F4 maintained detectable plasma nor-LAAM levels in rabbits for at least 15 days.

Conclusions:

  • Sustained-release nor-LAAM MPs demonstrate potential for effective OUD treatment.
  • In a fentanyl-addiction rat model, nor-LAAM MPs significantly reduced drug choice and withdrawal symptoms.
  • This long-acting nor-LAAM MP formulation offers a promising new option for the limited OUD treatment armamentarium.