Incorporation of drug-eluting microspheres into biodegradable nerve guidance channels for controlled drug delivery.
Published: 2005
Language: eng
Number of pages: 109
Description: Recent developments in molecular and systems biology have helped to identify a large volume of biomolecules capable of promoting nerve regeneration after spinal cord injury. As an alternative method of treatment, nerve guidance channels (NGCs) have been shown to promote nerve regeneration after transection of the spinal cord. Attempts of incorporating a drug delivery system (DDS) into the NGC have yielded sub-optimal designs due to low protein loading, uncontrolled release profiles and non-concentric geometries. We have developed a novel method of incorporating any microsphere based DDS into the NGC by physical entrapment in the annulus between two concentric tubes. Packing the NGCs with BSA-encapsulated microspheres resulted in the release of 260mug BSA over 84 days with a monotonic release rate. Release of EGF from a similar system showed that bioactive EGF was detected for over 14 days. This strategy should provide an effective method of localized delivery to the spinal cord.
Notes: Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-02, page: 0964.

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

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