Thymosin ?4 sustained release from poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres: synthesis and implications for treatment of myocardial ischemia
A sustained release formulation for the therapeutic peptide thymosin ?4 (T?4) that can be localized to the heart and reduce the concentration and frequency of dose is being explored as a means to improve its delivery in humans. This review contains concepts involved in the delivery of peptides to the heart and the synthesis of polymer microspheres for the sustained release of peptides, including T?4. Initial results of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres synthesized with specific tolerances for intramyocardial injection that demonstrate the encapsulation and release of T?4 from double-emulsion microspheres are also presented.
thymosin ?4 sustained release microsphere heart controlled