Additive Accelerated Meloxicam Release from Poly(Ester Urea) Fiber Implants for Acute Pain Management

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Pain Management
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Current pain management often relies on opioids, with limitations in efficacy and side effects.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) offer an alternative but require effective localized delivery.
• Implanted devices can provide sustained drug release at the target site.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate meloxicam-loaded poly(ester urea) (PEU) nanofibers for sustained localized drug delivery.
• To assess the efficacy of these implants in reducing pain and inflammation in a murine fracture model.
• To investigate the influence of fabrication parameters on meloxicam release kinetics.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of meloxicam-loaded PEU nanofibers with controlled variations in polymer properties and additives.
• In vivo testing in a murine tibial fracture model comparing nanofiber implants to intraperitoneal (IP) and intramuscular (IM) meloxicam injections.
• Analysis of meloxicam concentrations in plasma and surrounding muscle tissue.
• Assessment of pain inhibition and inflammatory markers (Ptgs2 expression, COX-2 inhibition).

Main Results:

• Meloxicam-loaded PEU nanofiber mats demonstrated superior pain inhibition for three days compared to IP and IM injections.
• Muscle tissue biopsies showed high local meloxicam concentrations one day post-treatment.
• Significantly reduced Ptgs2 expression and COX-2 inhibition were observed in surrounding muscle tissue.

Conclusions:

• Local meloxicam-loaded PEU implants provide extended pain and inflammation suppression.
• This localized delivery system offers a promising alternative to systemic administration for surgical pain management.
• The developed nanofiber technology shows potential for enhanced localized NSAID delivery.