Incorporation of microspheres into nerve guidance channels for drug delivery purposes.
Published: 2005
Language: eng
Number of pages: 108
Description: Implantation of nerve guidance channels has been shown to be a promising strategy for repair of spinal cord transection injuries; however, regeneration is limited and may be improved by the long-term delivery of therapeutic agents. To enable localized, controlled and sustained delivery of NGF to the lumen of poly(HEMA-co-MMA) channels, NGF-loaded PLGA microspheres were incorporated into a polymer layer on the inside of the channels. Channels loaded with NGF were also prepared by soaking their interior in NGF solution or by entrapping NGF directly in a polymer layer on the inside of the channels. Only low microsphere loadings could be achieved in the channels with microspheres, and as a result of this, and an imperfect microsphere formulation, these channels released limited amounts of NGF in in-vitro release studies. Channels with NGF entrapped directly in the inner layer were able to deliver the largest amount of NGF in a sustained manner.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-01, page: 0432.

Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

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