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Gatekeepers of Pain: A Scoping Review on How Nanoparticle Engineering Illuminates Selective Transient Receptor
Alexa Q Xiang1, Emily Cho2, Tiffany Jiang3
1Academy Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
Cureus
|May 25, 2026
Summary
Nanoparticle delivery systems selectively target TRPV1 receptors for precise chronic pain management, offering improved efficacy and reduced side effects compared to conventional analgesics.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Conventional analgesics offer limited chronic pain relief and cause systemic side effects.
- Targeting the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor presents a precise therapeutic strategy for chronic pain.
- Nanoparticle-engineered delivery systems show potential for targeted drug delivery and modulation of pain pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze mechanistic and bibliometric trends in nanoparticle-engineered delivery systems for selective TRPV1 modulation in chronic pain therapy.
- To identify key researchers, institutions, and citation patterns in this research area.
- To synthesize qualitative data on nanoparticle design and therapeutic outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Scoping review following PRISMA 2018 guidelines.
- Bibliometric analysis of the top 100 cited records from Web of Science.
- Qualitative synthesis of data on nanoparticle characteristics and therapeutic effects.
- Analysis of nanoparticle interactions with TRPV1 and TRPA1 receptors.
Main Results:
- Advanced polymeric and magnetic nanoparticles can cross the blood-brain barrier to modulate TRPV1.
- Nanoparticles with charged capsaicinoids enhance bioavailability and reduce neuroinflammation.
- Sustained low-dose nanoparticle release promotes analgesia via receptor desensitization.
- Surface-functionalized nanoparticles improve TRPV1 specificity and reduce TRPA1 co-activation.
- Optimized nanoparticle design (size, charge, ligand density, release kinetics) is crucial.
Conclusions:
- Rationally engineered nanoparticles offer a promising approach for safer and more effective chronic pain therapies.
- Selective TRPV1 modulation by nanoparticles can achieve long-lasting analgesia with minimized thermoregulatory disruption.
- Prioritizing targeting precision in nanoparticle design advances sustainable chronic pain treatments.
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