The identification of potent nonopioid analgesics and their potential for perioperative use

C Chaoyi Deng (Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) Y Yu Deng X Xudong Luo (Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) J Junyu Lu (Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) C Chenyang Li (State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics) P Peiwen Gao (Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) X Xiaoyu Xie (Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) B Bingbing Xiang (International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China) S Sicheng Liu (Department of Chemistry) X Xingxing Liu (State Key Laboratory of Loess Science, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences) X Xiaoxiao Li (Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) P Pan Chang (Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) X Xia Wu (Tufts Medicine Myeloma and Amyloid Program Tufts Medical Center Boston Massachusetts USA) G Guoyan Zhao (Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) D Deying Gong (Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) J Jing Wang (Hunan Cancer Hospital Changsha China) C Cheng Zhou (Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) J Jin Liu T Tao Zhu (Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Precise Synthesis of Functional Molecules, Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China) F Fengming Luo (Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University) W Wensheng Zhang

Abstract

Development of potent nonopioid analgesics (NOAs) has attracted great attentions from both academic and industrial worlds, aiming at replacing current opioid drugs in acute and chronic pain management. Among the diverse proposed pathways toward nonopioid analgesia, voltage-gated sodium channel stood out as one of the most promising targets in developing potent NOA. Diverging from the prevailing focus on highly subtype-selective blockers, we report here the access of potent analgesia via the simultaneous inhibition on multianalgesic-related sodium channel subtypes. Originated from AI-driven drug discovery and computer-aided drug design, the hit and lead compounds exhibited efficient inhibitory effect on analgesic-related sodium channel subtypes, robust analgesic effect in various rat models and no opioid-related adverse reactions. Furthermore, the potential of such a multi-subtype sodium channel blocker for perioperative use was validated through a surgical simulation. These findings represent a meaningful leap toward the goal of replacing opioids in perioperative period and provide fresh insights for future NOA development.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 16
Published April 21, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (21)

C

Chaoyi Deng

Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

Y

Yu Deng

X

Xudong Luo

Department of Pharmacy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

J

Junyu Lu

Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

C

Chenyang Li

State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics

P

Peiwen Gao

Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

X

Xiaoyu Xie

Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

B

Bingbing Xiang

International Center of Future Science, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun 130012, P. R. China

S

Sicheng Liu

Department of Chemistry

X

Xingxing Liu

State Key Laboratory of Loess Science, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences

X

Xiaoxiao Li

Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

P

Pan Chang

Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

X

Xia Wu

Tufts Medicine Myeloma and Amyloid Program Tufts Medical Center Boston Massachusetts USA

G

Guoyan Zhao

Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

D

Deying Gong

Laboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, National-Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

J

Jing Wang

Hunan Cancer Hospital Changsha China

C

Cheng Zhou

Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

J

Jin Liu

T

Tao Zhu

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Precise Synthesis of Functional Molecules, Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang Province, P. R. China

F

Fengming Luo

Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University

W

Wensheng Zhang