Scientists have created a fundamentally new anesthetic with light activation

Scientists from the Department of Operative Surgery and Topographic Anatomy of Sechenov University and RTU MIREA have developed a fundamentally new anesthetic. Due to its unique properties, it can be used in elderly patients who suffer from chronic pain caused by malignant neoplasms.

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As a result of cellular testing and research on laboratory animals, a new molecule was developed — "etherocoin", from the Latin word "ether". There are activators at both ends of the molecule of this substance.

"So if an anesthetic is injected into the tissue, but its effect is not enough, then a special long-wave light must be directed at the area of its administration and the activators begin to unfold into cis and transposition. That is, the reversal of the "tail" of the molecule blocks the channels that are responsible for the transmission of pain – this ensures complete anesthesia," explained Yuri Vasiliev, professor of the Department of Operative Surgery and Topographic Anatomy at Sechenov University.

At the end of the operation, when it is necessary to check whether the sensitivity of the patient has returned, you need to shine the light again, and then the molecule unfolds once more. Studies on laboratory animals have shown that a one percent solution of "etherocoin" is suitable for both application and infiltration anesthesia.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

Ether business: scientists have created a fundamentally new anesthetic with light activation