Implantable Bupivacaine and Lidocaine: A Novel Approach to Dental Anesthesia

Abstract

Introduction: Local anesthesia is a vital component of modern dentistry, playing a crucial role in reducing patient pain and anxiety during various treatments. Lidocaine and bupivacaine are among the most widely used anesthetics in this field due to their high efficacy and safety. Nanofibers, as novel drug delivery systems with controlled drug release capabilities, can improve anesthetic efficacy and reduce the side effects of traditional methods.Scope: This study aimed to develop and evaluate lidocaine and bupivacaine-loaded nanofiber implants for local anesthesia in dentistry, in order to improve pain management and reduce the complications of injection methods.Methods and materials: Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers containing lidocaine and bupivacaine were prepared by electrospinning. The physicochemical properties of the nanofibers were investigated by FTIR, XRD, DSC, and SEM tests. Drug release under in vitro conditions was evaluated using a Franz diffusion cell and UV-Vis spectroscopy, and the biocompatibility of the nanofibers was studied by MTT assay.Results: The analyses confirmed the successful incorporation of the drugs into the amorphous PVP matrix and the uniform morphology of the nanofibers (diameter 150-350 nm). Bupivacaine showed an initial burst release (60% in 200 minutes) followed by sustained release (70% in 1000 minutes), while lidocaine had a slow and sustained release (less than 10% in 1000 minutes). The MTT assay confirmed the high biocompatibility of the nanofibers with cell viability close to 100%. Conclusion: PVP nanofibers provided rapid release for bupivacaine and prolonged release for lidocaine, making them suitable for various anesthetic applications (rapid or sustained pain relief). High biocompatibility and controlled release make this system an effective option for improving dental anesthesia and reducing the complications of traditional methods. However, optimization of the nanofiber structure to improve lidocaine release is recommended.