Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2025

Operant Protocols for Assessing the Cost-benefit Analysis During Reinforced Decision Making by Rodents
Published on: September 10, 2018
Assessing the efficacy of nanoparticles in reversing opioid poisoning and preventing renarcotization
Akash Manes1, Joban Sran2, Horacio Bach3
1Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Abstract:
Opioid poisoning, also known as opioid overdose or opioid toxicity, is a medical emergency where there is excessive binding of opioids to mu-opioid receptors, leading to analgesia, sedation, and respiratory depression. Naloxone is currently the recommended treatment for reversing opioid poisoning; however, it has limitations, such as a shorter half-life than most opioids, which can lead to renarcotization. Multiple nanoparticle (NP) formulations have addressed this limitation by exhibiting a longer half-life as well as successfully antagonizing the effects of opioids. This review explores the polymer-, lipid-, and peptide-based NP formulations, which have been studied as alternatives for naloxone. NP-naloxone formulations have potential for implementation into clinical practice, yet their realization hinges on investment in research.
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Analgesia and Pain Management
Opioid Receptors: Overview
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents
Opioids, widely used antidiarrheal agents, mitigate diarrhea by slowing down...
Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists

