Injectable anaesthetic depot · Founded 2024–2025

Local anaesthesia that lasts as long as the procedure.

DentalDepot is developing an injectable lidocaine nanoemulsion that turns into a gel depot at body temperature and releases the drug steadily. In rats it gave analgesia for up to 150 min, longer than standard 2% lidocaine.

See the solutionView the results
150 minanalgesia in rat models
5 hsteady lidocaine release in vitro
~206 nmnanoemulsion droplet size
Formulation profile At a glance
Oil phaseMiglyol 812 N nanoemulsion
o/w
Gel formerPoloxamer 407
18% w/v
DoseLidocaine base per 1.5 mL
18 mg
Why it matters: One injection that stays where it is placed could reduce the need for repeat injections in longer procedures.
The problem

Standard anaesthesia can wear off too soon

Conventional lidocaine injections give a limited window of numbness, which can fall short in longer dental and operative work.

A short window

The authors cite about 60 to 90 min of anaesthesia for conventional lidocaine hydrochloride.

Repeat injections

When numbness fades mid-procedure, patients may need another injection and more drug.

Fast clearance

A plain solution spreads and clears from the site, with no reservoir to keep releasing drug.

Our solution

A liquid in the syringe, a depot in the tissue

A lidocaine nanoemulsion is dispersed in a thermoreversible poloxamer gel. It injects as a liquid and gels at body temperature to hold the drug in place.

Nanoemulsion

Small, stable droplets

-66.67 mVzeta potential of the nanoemulsion
  • Droplets about 206 nm and spherical
  • PDI about 0.40
  • Made by high-shear homogenisation and probe sonication
Depot

Gels where it is injected

18% w/vpoloxamer 407 in the gel
  • Thermoreversible in situ gel
  • Thixotropic and shear-thinning
  • Injection tested through 26G and 23G needles
Effect

Longer pain relief

150 minanalgesia in rats, versus standard 2% lidocaine
  • Steady release over 5 h, Higuchi model
  • Longer analgesia than control (p < 0.001)
  • No adverse ECG or blood pressure effects seen
How it works

How it works

From formulation to effect, as described in the study.

  1. 1

    Load the nanoemulsion

    Lidocaine is carried in an oil-in-water nanoemulsion of Miglyol 812 N, Tween 80 with soy lecithin, glycerin and water.

    Miglyol 812 NTween 80
  2. 2

    Add the gel former

    The nanoemulsion is dispersed in an 18% w/v poloxamer 407 solution to make the nanoemulgel.

    Poloxamer 40718% w/v
  3. 3

    Inject as a liquid

    Shear-thinning flow lets it pass through fine dental needles, then it gels at body temperature.

    26G23G37 °C
  4. 4

    Release steadily

    The depot releases lidocaine steadily over 5 h, extending numbness at the site.

    5 hHiguchi
Results

What the preclinical study showed

Laboratory characterisation plus in vivo testing in male Wistar rats (n = 6 per group) using tail-flick and Hargreaves thermal tests.

150 minduration of analgesic effect
p < 0.001longer analgesia versus standard 2% lidocaine
12.6 mg/kglidocaine dose in test and positive control groups
3 monthsstability study period
Study groups (as reported)
GroupTreatmentRole
1Blank nanoemulgelNegative control
22% lidocaine HCl, 12.6 mg/kgPositive control
3Lidocaine nanoemulgel, 12.6 mg/kgTest

Source: Jacob et al., Pharmaceutics 17(10), 1355 (2025). doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics17101355

Who it's for

Who it is for

Clinicians and companies who need anaesthesia to outlast the procedure.

Dental practices

  • Longer restorative and surgical sessions
  • Fewer top-up injections
  • Standard dental needles

Operative and minor surgery

  • Local procedures that run long
  • A depot at the injection site
  • Familiar active drug

Dental product companies

  • A new delivery format for lidocaine
  • Defined formulation method
  • Licensing and co-development
Where we are

Where the evidence stands

Promising animal data, with human studies still ahead.

Animal data only

Analgesia and safety were measured in rats. Duration and safety in people are not yet known.

Thermal pain models

Tail-flick and paw withdrawal tests are standard models, but they are not a dental procedure.

Regulatory path ahead

Scale-up, sterility, long-term stability and clinical trials are needed before any use.

The team

The team

Founded in 2024–2025 by the research team behind the lidocaine nanoemulsion gel depot study.

SJ

Shery Jacob

Co-author of the DentalDepot research.

FK

Fathima Sheik Kather

Co-author of the DentalDepot research.

SS

Shakta Mani Satyam

Co-author of the DentalDepot research.

SB

Sai H. S. Boddu

Co-author of the DentalDepot research.

FA

Firas Assaf

Co-author of the DentalDepot research.

TA

Tasnem H. Abdelfattah Allam

Co-author of the DentalDepot research.

AN

Anroop B. Nair

Co-author of the DentalDepot research.

Frequently asked questions

What is DentalDepot?

An injectable lidocaine nanoemulsion in a poloxamer gel that forms a depot at body temperature for longer local anaesthesia.

How long does it last?

In rats, analgesia lasted up to 150 min, significantly longer than standard 2% lidocaine (p < 0.001).

Can it be injected with normal dental needles?

It is shear-thinning, and injection force was tested through 26G and 23G needles.

Is it safe?

In the rat study, ECG and blood pressure monitoring showed no adverse effects. Human safety has not been tested.

When will it be available?

Not yet. Clinical trials and regulatory approval are still needed.

The research

Peer-reviewed science behind DentalDepot.

Read the full study behind the product.

Read the paper

Jacob, S., Kather, F. S., Satyam, S. M., Boddu, S. H. S., Assaf, F., Allam, T. H. A., & Nair, A. B. (2025). Injectable in situ thermoreversible gel depot system of lidocaine nanoemulsion for prolonged anesthetic activity in dental and operative procedures. Pharmaceutics, 17(10), 1355. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101355

https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics17101355