Magnetic field distribution modulation of intrathecal delivered ketorolac iron-oxide nanoparticle conjugates produce excellent analgesia for chronic inflammatory pain

Background Nanoparticles have become one of the most promising among the potential materials used for biomedical applications. However, few researchers have focused on their effects on analgesia. Despite the fact that various nanoparticles have been evaluated for drug delivery and MRI imaging contrast enhancement in clinical settings, no reports have investigated the in vivo synergy of ketorolac iron-oxide nanoparticle conjugates to improve the analgesic effect. Methods Ketorolac conjugated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Keto-SPIO) were synthesized via two-stage additions of protective agents and chemical co-precipitation. ICR mice were used to develop inflammatory pain models induced by Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) injection in the hind paw. Different magnet field strengths and polarities were applied to the spinal cord after injecting Keto-SPIO into the theca space. Analgesia behavior was evaluated with the up-down method via von Frey microfilament measurement. Spinal cord tissues were harvested at the end analgesia time point upon induction of the inflammatory pain. The presence of the two cyclooxygenases (COX) in the spinal cord was examined via Western blotting to quantify the changes after intra-thecal Keto-SPIO administration. Results Intrathecal Keto-SPIO administration demonstrated a magnetic field-dependent analgesia effect in CFA pain model with a significant reduction in COX expression. Conclusions Our results indicated that intrathecal administration of the Keto-SPIO combined magnet field modulated delivery significantly promoted an analgesia effect with suppression of COX in the mice inflammatory pain model. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12951-018-0375-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.