title: A drug delivery system based on alginate microspheres: mass-transport test and in vitro validation.
abstract: This paper presents a drug delivery system based on alginate microspheres. The biocompatibility, the flexibility in size and shape, the ability to entrap biomolecules as well as cells make alginate based systems ideal for in vivo drug delivery. Specifically, considering the target application of neural regeneration and the issue of neuroprotection for the development of innovative neuroprostheses, the authors describe a system for controlled release of Netrin-1, an axonal guidance protein. Microspheres dimensioning (based on specifications of drug release time and release modality), microspheres realization, and mass transport tests are described. The release efficiency is finally assessed by in vitro experiments of axonal guidance performed on embryonic neuronal cells. Preliminary results show that neuronal axons grow approaching the Netrin-1 source, thus indicating an efficient entrapment and release of the protein in the microspheres, in agreement with the microsphere modelling described before.
authors.affiliation: CRIM Laboratory, Center of Research In Microengineering, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della, Libertà, 33-56127 Pisa, Italy. g.ciofani@sssup.it
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciofani
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menciassi
authors.forename: Silvestro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Micera
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dario
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D008422:Materials Testing; D008863:Microspheres; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*; D000075388:Netrin-1; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; C000617354:Ntn1 protein, rat; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000075388:Netrin-1; D020723:Glucuronic Acid