Development of a nanotechnology-based mucoadhesive anesthetic film as a strategy to improve and innovate topical anesthesia in dentistry

• Grant number: 22/15681-2
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: August 01, 2023
• End date: April 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmaceutical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Viviane Aparecida Guilherme Damasio
• Grantee: Viviane Aparecida Guilherme Damasio
• Company: Fornano Soluções Nanotecnológicas e Quimiométricas Ltda
• CNAE: Pesquisa e desenvolvimento experimental em ciências físicas e naturais
• City: Campinas
• Associated researchers: Eneida de Paula ; Gustavo Henrique Rodrigues da Silva
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/09779-2 - Development of benzocaine encapsulated in lipid nanocapsules., BP.TT; 23/09805-3 - Development of a nanotechnology-based mucoadhesive anesthetic film as a strategy to improve and innovate topical anesthesia in Dentistry, BP.PIPE

Abstract

Local anesthetics (LA) are drugs widely used in medical and dental clinics, capable of reversibly blocking the painful stimulus, without loss of consciousness. Topical LA formulations are used in dentistry as a strategy to reduce discomfort, pain and anxiety during clinical procedures and also in cases of needle phobia. Specifically in pediatric dentistry, where patient cooperation is required, pain control through topical anesthesia is essential for a successful procedure. The market availability of topical anesthetics for the oral mucosa is in cream or gel formulations. Thus, for the efficient application of these formulations, the professional needs to employ techniques that use cotton swabs or cotton and must keep pressing the gel at the application site. Considering that the duration of anesthetic contact with the mucosa for correct anesthesia is greater than 1 minute, the technical difficulties encountered for the application of this type of formulations lead to a low efficiency of the topical anesthetic, causing it to be neglected or even underestimated. by dental surgeons. The literature also confirms the lack of an effective topical formulation for use in dentistry. In this perspective, we propose in this project the development of a mucoadhesive film, nanotechnology-based, easy to apply, to be used in the dental clinic for effective anesthesia, mainly in pediatric dentistry. A product of this type will be an innovation in dentistry, modifying the pre-anesthetic technique, increasing its use by professionals and decreasing the pain and discomfort of patients, making them more cooperative. There is no such product in the national and international market. Furthermore, our objective - in addition to developing a film with mucoadhesive property - is to include nanotechnology in order to increase the anesthetic potency and consequently decrease the dose and toxicity of the local anesthetic benzocaine (BZC), typically used in the form of a cream (20 %). Thus, several innovative advantages would be contained in a single product: ease of application, increased anesthetic efficiency and reduced toxicity. To achieve these goals, we will first encapsulate BZC in lipid nanocapsules and later include them in films, developed with natural polymer (non-toxic), with mucoadhesive property. As one of the bottlenecks for the production of films is the production method, we will rely on the consultancy of the Autocoat company, which has an automated film production equipment based on the "blade coating" method that is industrially scalable. In addition to the development of the formulation, it is also our objective in this Phase 1 of the project to conduct a market research to validate the product and, from there, to be able to propose new goals for the market to be reached in the future phases of this project. (AU)