Restoring the neuroprotective capacity of glial cells under opioid addiction

Opioid addiction is a worldwide public health crisis stemming from the well-intentioned efforts of physicians to improve pain management in the 1990’s. The lack of knowledge behind the addictive tendencies of opioids, led to what is now known as the opioid epidemic causing significant social and economic burdens across the globe. Research has been primarily focused on the behavioral components of addiction but has more recently been geared towards examining the role of neurons and glial cells in modulating addiction. Glial cells have been shown to modify the pharmacodynamics of opioids via proinflammatory reactivity, ultimately leading to excitotoxicity, disruption of neuro-homeostasis, and hypersensitivity to pain. It is hypothesized that restoring the neuroprotective capacity of glial cells via targeted therapeutics, will prevent further degeneration of neurons under chronic opioid abuse. Nanoparticle delivery systems are a valued tool in the fight against addiction due to their ability to carry diverse payloads, ability to permeate biological membranes, and ability for controlled release of the payload. This perspective offers insight into the cellular mechanisms underlying addiction, adjusting our focus to highlight the role of glial cells in modulating the efficacy of opioids and the effects of addiction. Moreover, we discuss different avenues in which nanotherapeutics can be optimized to target and increase the neuroprotectant capacity of glial cells to alleviate the burden of opioid toxicity in individuals suffering from chronic opioid addiction.