Biodegradable Poly([ D , L ]-Lactide- Co -Glycolide) Nanofibers for The Sustainable Delivery of Lidocaine Into The Epidural Space After Laminectomy

Abstract

We developed biodegradable, lidocaine-embedded poly([D,L]-lactide-co-glycolide) nanofibers for epidural analgesia to reduce the severe pain in rats after laminectomies. Nanofibers were prepared by an electrospinning process and were introduced into the epidural space of rats after laminectomy. The lidocaine concentration, postoperative bodyweight change and amount of food/water intake were monitored to evaluate the analgesic effectiveness of the drug-eluting nanofibers. It was demonstrated that the nanofibers provided a sustained release of lidocaine for more than 2 weeks, and the local pharmaceutical concentration was much higher than the concentration in plasma. Rats that received laminectomies without nanofibers exhibited the greatest bodyweight reduction. The food/water intake and activity performance were significantly higher in rats receiving laminectomies with nanofibers than in rats without nanofibers. The results of this study suggest that the lidocaine-loaded nanofibers can provide an easy, practical and safe means of achieving effective postlaminectomy analgesia.