Polyglycerol-opioid conjugate produces analgesia devoid of side effects
Novel painkillers are urgently needed. The activation of opioid receptors in peripheral inflamed tissue can reduce pain without central adverse effects such as sedation, apnoea, or addiction. Here, we use an unprecedented strategy and report the synthesis and analgesic efficacy of the standard opioi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
04 July 2017
|
| In: |
eLife
Year: 2017, Volume: 6 |
| ISSN: | 2050-084X |
| DOI: | 10.7554/eLife.27081 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.27081 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://elifesciences.org/articles/27081 
|
| Author Notes: | Sara González-Rodríguez, Mohiuddin A. Quadir, Shilpi Gupta, Karolina A. Walker, Xuejiao Zhang, Viola Spahn, Dominika Labuz, Antonio Rodriguez-Gaztelumendi, Martin Schmelz, Jan Joseph, Maria K. Parr, Halina Machelska, Rainer Haag, Christoph Stein |
| Summary: | Novel painkillers are urgently needed. The activation of opioid receptors in peripheral inflamed tissue can reduce pain without central adverse effects such as sedation, apnoea, or addiction. Here, we use an unprecedented strategy and report the synthesis and analgesic efficacy of the standard opioid morphine covalently attached to hyperbranched polyglycerol (PG-M) by a cleavable linker. With its high-molecular weight and hydrophilicity, this conjugate is designed to selectively release morphine in injured tissue and to prevent blood-brain barrier permeation. In contrast to conventional morphine, intravenous PG-M exclusively activated peripheral opioid receptors to produce analgesia in inflamed rat paws without major side effects such as sedation or constipation. Concentrations of morphine in the brain, blood, paw tissue, and in vitro confirmed the selective release of morphine in the inflamed milieu. Thus, PG-M may serve as prototype of a peripherally restricted opioid formulation designed to forego central and intestinal side effects. |
|---|---|
| Item Description: | Gesehen am 24.05.2018 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 2050-084X |
| DOI: | 10.7554/eLife.27081 |