By Pat Anson, PNN Editor

A drug-free skin patch that uses nanotechnology to help dial down pain levels provided significant relief to people living with arthritis, neuropathy and musculoskeletal pain, according to the results of a small study.

The Kailo pain patch contains billions of tiny nanoparticles made with copper, silver and silicon that help transmit electromagnetic signals from the nervous system. In theory, the nanoparticles act as a “bridge” over inflamed nerve pathways and restore their ability to transmit pain signals properly.

The patch is made by Utah-based Pain Relief Technologies, which claims in marketing material that its patented technology provides “natural relief anywhere on your body, in seconds.”

In the study, 66 patients wore the Kailo patch while continuing to take oral analgesic medications such as opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

After 30 days, self-reported pain levels dropped significantly and 98 percent of patients said they reduced or stopped using oral medication. Their mood, sleep, walking ability, and other quality of life measures also improved.

The study findings, published in the journal Anesthesia and Pain Research, suggest that the analgesic effects of the Kailo patch are long lasting. About one in every four patients said their pain did not return after the patch was removed. Over half said it took at least a day for the pain to resume.

“Modern science has allowed the incorporation of nanotechnology into topical patch systems, minimizing, and in the case of Kailo, eliminating the need for drugs/pharmacological agents. The interim results of this study are incredibly positive, and we look forward to providing the next phase of data that we have collected from patients with mild, moderate or severe pain,” lead investigator Jeffrey Gudin, MD, said in a statement.

Gudin was compensated by Clarity Science for conducting the study. You may recognize him from TV commercials for SalonPas, a rival pain relief patch.

An anesthesiologist by training, Gudin has become a prolific researcher, consultant and public speaker for dozens of companies involved in pain management, including Purdue Pharma, Salix, BioDelivery Sciences and Quest Diagnostics. He’s been paid over $1.5 million for his services since 2013, according to the OpenPayments database. In an email to PNN, Gudin said most of the money has been used for research and consulting on new analgesic therapies.

The Kailo patch is reusable and can be purchased without a prescription for $119. Reviews on Amazon for Kailo are mixed.

“Immediately upon placing it on my low back I could feel a warmth and my pain decreased rapidly. I was able to go to work the next day with relative comfort,” wrote one buyer who suffered pain from a hamstring injury.

“Did not reduce pain actually increased pain level,” said a disappointed user.

“Nothing else has worked for me but this significantly reduced my pain. It does not completely remove the pain, so don't expect that. But it reduced it enough that I can play with my kids, mow the lawn, work, essentially be a normal human being without medication,” said another user.

“I used it for a week, received no relief whatsoever,” wrote another buyer. “I am very dissatisfied and would like my money back.”