Research team develops light-activated compounds to treat neuropathic pain

Photopharmacology allows the use of light to activate drugs in specific parts of the body. This innovative approach involves modifying the chemical structure of a drug by adding a light-activated molecular switch, such as azobenzene, so that the drug is only activated when exposed to a specific color of light, and not in the dark.

Based on these principles, a research team led by the Institute of Biotechnology of Catalonia (IBEC) has developed a light-switchable derivative of the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine. medicine It is widely used medically to treat certain neuropathic pain conditions, such as trigeminal neuralgia.

These compounds are Pain relieving effect When activated by light, it can locally and on demand inhibit nerve signals. The derivative synthesized by the researchers is activated with a wavelength that corresponds to the color amber, so it can be passed through tissue and bone using a conventional halogen lamp.

The two synthesized compounds, carbazopine-1 and carbadiazocine, exhibit photopharmacological activity and can reversibly control hippocampal neuronal activity and the locomotion of zebrafish larvae by light. These in vivo experiments make it possible to observe anxiety-related behaviors reflected in sudden swimming behavior.

“When we expose larvae that have ingested these compounds to light of specific wavelengths, the drugs are activated and the larvae move faster. If we change the wavelength, their movement slows down again, showing that the compounds have a reversible effect on the larvae,” said IBEC researcher Luisa Camerin, lead author of the study. Nervous system“

Carbadiazocine has also been shown to have analgesic properties: “In a rat model developed in the laboratory of Esther Verrocoso at the University of Cádiz, it was observed that carbadiazocine has analgesic effects. Neuropathic pain “There is no anesthesia, sedation or any signs of toxicity. These results demonstrate a simple and compelling treatment with non-invasive illumination,” explains Pau Gorostiza, ICREA Research Professor, IBEC Principal Investigator and CIBER-BBN member.

Neuropathic pain is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system, such as lumbar radiculopathy (‘sciatica’). Diabetic neuropathy Chronic post-operative pain. Treatment of this type of pain often requires opioids, which are more powerful analgesics than the usual NSAIDs such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. However, their use is controversial due to their variable efficacy, the need for high doses that can lead to tolerance and addiction, and systemic side effects such as constipation, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness.

In this context, light therapy is becoming increasingly important in medicine due to its ability to target specific areas of the body, enhancing therapeutic efficacy and reducing the side effects of systemic drugs.

The team is already working on the next steps of this project. Infraredwhich penetrates deeper into tissue and uses light sources such as lasers or handheld light sources. Light-emitting diode (LED).