A modified opioid is provided comprising modified morphine molecules, wherein for each morphine molecule, one or more carbon atoms are replaced with silicon atoms. Preferably, for each morphine molecule, one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by lithium atoms. More preferably, for each morphine molecule, one or more Si-Si bonds are replaced with siloxane groups. Most preferably, for each morphine molecule, one or more silicon-silicon double bonds may be replaced with a Si-Si single bond and a Si-Li single bond. A method is further provided for modifying an opioid comprising morphine molecules, said method comprising the step of replacing one or more carbon atoms with silicon atoms. It is hypothesised that a synthetic silicon opioid would be able to mimic the naturally occurring opioid.
