title: In vivo brain electrophoresis - a novel method for chemotherapy of CNS diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a protective mechanism that does its job superbly. So much so, that hitherto, brain chemotherapy has been limited by it. In fact, very few agents are effective against brain disease due to the inherent difficulties of penetrating the BBB. We describe a novel, extremely focused method for delivering drugs to specific diseased areas. This innovative method directly delivers putative substances to the pathological area, bypassing the BBB. Treatment of brain diseases could be improved by targeted, controlled delivery of therapeutic substances to diseased cerebral areas. Our described novel method - in vivo electrophoresis - achieves this.
  
  
  METHODS
  This technique was evaluated in beagles after craniotomy was performed and a custom-designed plate with electrodes inserted. The delivery of charged substances to selected areas with predictably guided movement was achieved via a created electrical field. Gadolinium, a compound unable to cross the BBB, was injected intracerebrally whereas an electrical field was created using the implanted electrodes surrounding the injection area. The electrical field-guided Gadolinium movement was evaluated using MRI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gadolinium was moved predictably using the created electrical field without complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experiment successfully demonstrated controlled movement of the substance. This technique can significantly change treatment of brain diseases because substances: i) may be moved in a controlled, predictable way - exponentially increasing therapeutic interactions with the target; and ii) no longer need to conform to constraints dictated by the BBB (molecular mass < 500 d; lipophilic), thereby increasing potential number of usable substances.
authors: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Department of Neurological Surgery , N-1025 Doan Hall, 410 west 10th ave, Columbus, OH 43210 , USA +1 614 293 1970 ; +1 614 293 4024 ; Mario.ammirati@osumc.edu.
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Ammirati
authors: Tariq
authors: T
authors: Lamki
authors: Girish
authors: G
authors: Chitnis
authors: Xiangyu
authors: X
authors: Yang
authors: Duncan
authors: D
authors: Russell
authors: Dondrae
authors: D
authors: Coble
authors: Balveen
authors: B
authors: Kaur
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Knopp
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Moore
authors: Babak
authors: B
authors: Ziaie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations
keywords: blood–brain barrier; drug delivery; glioblastoma multiforme; in vivo electrophoresis; novel method; stereotactic chemotherapy