Bioinspired anesthetic delivery systems: bridging pain management and regenerative medicine

This study explores bioinspired anesthetic delivery systems as an emerging approach to integrate pain management with tissue regeneration. It highlights limitations of conventional anesthetics by short half-lives, narrow therapeutic windows, and the risk of systemic toxicity, highlighting the need for safer and longer-acting alternatives. Drawing inspiration from natural biological systems, including cell membrane-derived nanocarriers and self-assembling peptides, bioinspired platforms offer innovative approaches for controlled and targeted drug delivery. Significantly, growing evidence demonstrates that the nervous system actively participates in tissue repair processes, necessitating anesthetic strategies that alleviate pain without impairing regeneration. In this context, the development of dual-functional delivery systems, particularly hydrogel nanoparticle composites, represents a promising solution, enabling sustained analgesia while concurrently promoting tissue healing. The review further addresses key translational barriers, including manufacturing scalability, regulatory complexities associated with combination products, and technical challenges such as burst release. By outlining strategic pathways for clinical translation, this work underscores the transformative potential of multifunctional, bioinspired delivery platforms in advancing chronic pain therapy and regenerative medicine.