Sustained-Release Hydrogel Formulation for Gabapentin Delivery in Neuropathic Pain Management

Abstract

Neuropathic pain is a chronic, complex disorder that significantly affects a patient's quality of life and is typically treatment refractory of conventional treatments such as opioids and NSAIDs. Gabapentin is an efficacy in treating neuropathic pain, particularly in diabetic neuropathy and post herpetic neuralgia as a GABA analogue. However, this has limitation due to its low bioavailability, short half life, and associated adverse effects, which render consistent therapeutic outcome challenging. To overcome these limitations, promising sustained release formulations especially based on hydrogels are available. Biocompatible, high drug loading systems that offer sustained release, hydro-gels are an improvement to patient compliance and therapeutic efficacy. In this work we explore the possibility of using hydrogel based drug delivery systems for the treatment of neuropathic pain upon administering Gabapentin with research on existing hydrogel formulations and their advantages over traditional delivery methods. Formulation optimization and clinical applicability are also discussed, and additional research will be necessary before this approach can be developed into a commercially competitive technology.