Precursor of liquid crystalline system loading lidocaine for dental topical anesthesia.

• Grant number: 23/03561-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Michelle Franz Montan Braga Leite
• Grantee: Ana Luiza Martins Lucas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Local anesthesia is used in most dental procedures. However, its administration occurs parenterally, so local anesthesia is painful, generating fear, anxiety, stress in patients and consequently the interruption of dental treatment. Therefore, to minimize the discomfort caused by the injection, many dentists perform topical anesthesia prior to local anesthesia. However, many studies reveal that commercially available topical anesthetics do not completely minimize the pain of needle penetration and injection of the anesthetic solution and, therefore, Dentistry needs the development of an effective topical formulation. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic (LA) of the amino-amide type, widely used in dentistry both in topical and injectable forms. Precursor of liquid crystalline systems (PLCS) are nanostructured mucoadhesive systems that gel in situ, which increase their viscosity and mucoadhesion when in contact with saliva. Its high mucoadhesiveness can improve the permeation of drugs incorporated into this system. Therefore, the development of a lidocaine formulation incorporated in PLCS could result in a topical formulation that is efficient in reducing pain resulting from local anesthesia. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop, characterize and evaluate the mucoadhesion and toxicity of a formulation composed of lidocaine incorporated in a PLCS. For this, PLCS compound oleic acid as oily phase, ultrapure water as aqueous phase and still, PPG-5-CETETH-20 as surfactant with or without incorporated lidocaine will be developed and characterized by polarized light microscopy, low X-ray scattering angle, gelling test in contact with artificial saliva, rheology, texture profile analysis, swelling and release tests. The in vitro mucoadhesion and permeation capacity of the developed formulation will be evaluated using swine buccal mucosa. It is expected that this project can contribute to the development of a lidocaine formulation incorporated in SPCL with a view to future clinical application.