Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine in Pain Management

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pain presents a unique challenge due to the complexity of the biological pathways involved in the pain perception, the growing concern regarding the use of opioid analgesics, and the limited availability of optimal treatment options. The use of biomaterials and regenerative medicine in pain management is being actively explored and showing exciting progress in improving the efficacy of conventional pharmacotherapy and as novel non-pharmacological therapy for chronic pain caused by degenerative diseases. In this paper we review current clinical applications, and promising research in the use of biomaterials and regenerative medicine in pain management. RECENT FINDINGS: Regenerative therapies have been developed to repair damaged tissues in back, joint, and shoulder that lead to chronic and inflammatory pain. Novel regenerative biomaterials have been designed to incorporate biochemical and physical pro-regenerative cues that augment the efficacy of regenerative therapies. New biomaterials improve target localization with improved tunability for controlled drug delivery, and injectable scaffolds enhance the efficacy of regenerative therapies through improving cellular migration. Advanced biomaterial carrier systems have been developed for sustained and targeted delivery of analgesic agents to specific tissues and organs, showing improved treatment efficacy, extended duration of action, and reduced dosage. Targeting endosomal receptors by nanoparticles has shown promising anti-nociception effects. Biomaterial scavengers are designed to remove proinflammatory reactive oxygen species that trigger nociceptors and cause pain hypersensitivity, providing a proactive approach for pain management. SUMMARY: Pharmacotherapy remains the method of choice for pain management; however, conventional analgesic agents are associated with adverse effects. The relatively short duration of action when applied as free drug limited their efficacy in postoperative and chronic pain treatment. The application of biomaterials in pain management is a promising strategy to improve the efficacy of current pharmacotherapy through sustained and targeted delivery of analgesic agents. Regenerative medicine strategies target the damaged tissue and provide non-pharmacological alternatives to manage chronic and inflammatory pain. In the future, the successful development of regenerative therapies that completely repair damaged tissues will provide a more optimal alternative for the treatment of chronic pain caused. Future studies will leverage on the increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing pain perception and transmission, injury response and tissue regeneration, and the development of new biomaterials and tissue regenerative methods.