On-demand tamper‑proof injectable opioid depots
Depot formulations for on-demand tamper- and diversion-proof delivery of opioids
Developing injectable opioid depots that keep pain medicine inactive until triggered, aimed at people needing short-term pain control after procedures.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11187022 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work is creating a tiny polymer depot that a clinician would inject under the skin and that holds opioid molecules bound so they cannot be taken out or used. The drug is designed to stay inactive until a controlled trigger (such as light) releases it on demand, so it would not continuously sedate patients. The team will test the chemistry, release mechanism, and safety in the lab and in animal models before any human use. The goal is to make a formulation that is hard to tamper with or divert once placed in the body.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be patients who need short‑term opioid pain control after a procedure or surgery and for whom preventing diversion or misuse is a priority.
Not a fit: People with chronic pain who need adjustable long‑term opioid dosing, those allergic to the materials, or those who cannot receive a subcutaneous implant would likely not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give people reliable, on‑demand short‑term pain relief while greatly reducing the risk of theft, tampering, and diversion of prescribed opioids.
How similar studies have performed: Other long‑acting injectable opioid depots exist but have had limited success preventing tampering and are not designed for on‑demand release, so this photolabile, covalently bound approach is novel and currently preclinical.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Children's Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kohane, Daniel S — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Kohane, Daniel S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.