Chemical-analytical approach to evaluating the effectiveness of local anesthetics

Objective. To determine the cause of variable clinical efficacy of local anesthetics containing active substances (articaine and epi-nephrine) and to substantiate the indicators for their selection in trade names. Material and methods. In our experiment, we used a mathematical approach to calculate the ratio of ionized and non-ionized forms of anesthetic drugs found in various biological fluids and human tissues. Articaine-based anesthetics containing epinephrine at a dilution of 1:100,000 or 1:200,000 were chosen for the study: Articain-Bynergy, Brilocaine, Articaine Inibsa, Orablok, Pri-makain, Septanest with adrenaline, Ubistezin and Ultracain with adrenaline. We obtained appropriate data from analytical pass-ports or literature databases. Results. Articaine-containing local anesthetics are bases by their chemical nature. Being subjected to hydrolysis, these anesthetics realize their direct effect, i.e. reversible disturbance of nerve cell excitation and cessation of pain impulses for a certain period of time. Prolongation of these effects depends on the dose of injected artificial adrenaline. When comparing some characteristics of articaine-containing local anesthetic substances with epinephrine, we found different pH of solutions depending on concentration. Adrenaline is also a base that must be kept from hydrolysis. Conclusion. Lower pH of articaine-containing drug is accompanied by higher percentage of stable ionized form of local anesthetic. © 2023, Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved.