Apr 27, 2017 10:33 AM EDT By Khaleb Skye A. Cruz, UniversityHerald Reporter

Researchers at the American Chemical Society (ACS) found a way to make pain killers last longer. Recently, scientists have been studying the compounds called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for drug delivery. Obviously, the results were remarkable.

According to Science Daily, active ingredients can be packed inside MOFs because they are porous. Some of them even have additional traits such as water solubility which makes them potential candidates for drug couriers. However, there are still few studies to show whether these MOFs could be used in oral formulations. Thus, J. Fraser Stoddart and his fellow scientists chose ibuprofen as a model drug to demonstrate the promising abilities of MOFs.

Currently, people are depending on ibuprofen to treat headaches, back pains, and fevers. Sadly, patients need to take the drug every four to six hours for best results. Now, the experts are working on a way to make the pain killer be more effective. This study, published in the ACS journal "Molecular Pharmaceutics", may also result in the oral delivery of drugs previously taken intravenously.

To illustrate, the scientists have placed "therapeutically relevant concentrations" of ibuprofen into "easily prepared", biocompatible MOFS with cyclodextrin and alkali metal cations. They later tested the mixture on mice and the findings were positive. The compounds have reached the blood stream quicker in about 10 to 20 minutes. It lasted twice as long as ibuprofen salts. Indeed, this study is very promising.

On the other hand, Austin Daily Herald reported that Attorney General Lori Swanson wants Minnesota to drop unwanted pain killers and other medicines such as opioids. She said that roughly 80 percent of people who abuse the drug get it from family and friends. Moreover, Swanson believes that getting rid of "extra drugs" could save lives. As part of the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, over 90 law enforcement agencies across 114 locations will confiscate unwanted medications.

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