GDNF released from microspheres enhances nerve regeneration after delayed repair.
BACKGROUND
Delays in surgical repair following nerve transection produce progressively inferior motor nerve regeneration. Regeneration can be improved with delivery of exogenous growth factor. We developed a delivery system that could be applied at the nerve repair site to deliver growth factors locally to regenerating nerve.


METHODS
Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) microspheres containing glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) suspended within fibrin were developed into a delivery system for local application surrounding nerve at a repair site in an experimental rat model.


RESULTS
The system containing GDNF remained at the injury site for up to 2 weeks and improved motor nerve regeneration following chronic axotomy and denervation.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the positive outcome of the delivery system, we plan to study the delivery system over longer time courses of release and nerve regeneration.
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, 555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5G 1X8. matthew.wood@sickkids.ca
Matthew D
MD
Wood
Howard
H
Kim
Alex
A
Bilbily
Stephen W P
SW
Kemp
Christine
C
Lafontaine
Tessa
T
Gordon
Molly S
MS
Shoichet
Gregory H
GH
Borschel
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019771:Axotomy; D003714:Denervation; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008863:Microspheres; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor