Bupivacaine in alginate and chitosan nanoparticles: an in vivo evaluation of efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and local toxicity

OBJECTIVE: This study reports a preclinical evaluation of an alginate/chitosan nanoparticle formulation containing NovaBupi®, a racemic bupivacaine (BVC) containing 25% dextrobupivacaine and 75% levobupivacaine. METHODS: New Zealand White rabbits (n=6) received intraoral or intrathecal injections of BVC 0.5% or BVC 0.5%-loaded alginate–chitosan nanoparticles (BVC(ALG)). BVC plasma levels and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined in blood samples of these rabbits. An infraorbital nerve blockade was performed in male Wistar rats (n=7) with the same formulations and the vehicle (NP(ALG)). Histological evaluation of local toxicity after 6 hours and 24 hours of the treatments was performed in rats’ (n=6) oral tissues. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was observed between plasma concentrations and pharmacokinetic parameters (p>0.05) after intraoral injections. However, after intrathecal injection BVC(ALG) changed approximately three times the values of volume of distribution and area under the curve (AUC(0–t); p<0.05). The total analgesic effect of BVC after infraorbital nerve blockade was improved by 1.4-fold (p<0.001) with BVC(ALG). BVC and BVC(ALG) did not induce significant local inflammatory reaction. CONCLUSION: The encapsulation of BVC prolongs the local anesthetic effect after infraorbital nerve blockade and altered the pharmacokinetics after intrathecal injection.