title: Mechanically strong geopolymers offer new possibilities in treatment of chronic pain.
abstract: We propose that a clay derived class of materials, known as geopolymers, may solve the problem of finding materials for controlled release with the right combination of properties necessary for a safe and sustained oral delivery of highly potent opioids. We show that the opioid Fentanyl, and its structurally similar sedative Zolpidem, can be embedded into metakaolin based geopolymer pellets to provide prolonged release dosage forms with mechanical strengths of the same order of magnitude as that of human teeth. The results presented in the current work may open up new opportunities for future development of drug delivery for high potency drugs employing high-strength and variable-pore-structure geopolymers and materials alike.
authors.affiliation: Division for Nanotechnology and Functional Materials, Department of Engineering Sciences, The Angström Laboratory, Uppsala University, P.O. Box 534, SE-75121 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jämstorp
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forsgren
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bredenberg
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engqvist
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strømme
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019245:Compressive Strength; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000737:chemistry*; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007616:Kaolin / Q000737:chemistry*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011108:Polymers; D011725:Pyridines; D007616:Kaolin; D000077334:Zolpidem; D005283:Fentanyl