Controlled epi-cortical delivery of epidermal growth factor for the stimulation of endogenous neural stem cell proliferation in stroke-injured brain

• Published in: Biomaterials Vol. 32; no. 24; pp. 5688 - 5697
• Main Authors: Cooke, Michael J, Wang, Yuanfei, Morshead, Cindi M, Shoichet, Molly S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2011
• Subjects: Advanced Basic Science; Animals; Brain - cytology; Brain - pathology; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Dentistry; Drug delivery; Epidermal growth factor; Epidermal Growth Factor - chemistry; Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Epidermal Growth Factor - therapeutic use; Hyaluronic Acid - chemistry; Hydrogel; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Models, Biological; Neural Stem Cells - cytology; Neural Stem Cells - metabolism; Peptide Hydrolases - metabolism; Poly(ethylene glycol); Polyethylene Glycols - chemistry; Stroke; Stroke - drug therapy; Stroke - metabolism; Stroke - therapy; Tissue penetration; Stroke; Drug delivery; Epidermal growth factor; Tissue penetration; Hydrogel; Poly(ethylene glycol)
• ISSN: 0142-9612; 1878-5905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.04.032

Abstract One of the challenges in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders with biomolecules is achieving local delivery while minimizing invasiveness. For the treatment of stroke, stimulation of endogenous neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) by growth factors is a promising strategy for tissue regeneration. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) enhances proliferation of endogenous NSPCs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) when delivered directly to the ventricles of the brain; however, this strategy is highly invasive. We designed a biomaterials-based strategy to deliver molecules directly to the brain without tissue damage. EGF or poly(ethylene glycol)-modified EGF (PEG-EGF) was dispersed in a hyaluronan and methylcellulose (HAMC) hydrogel and placed epi-cortically on both uninjured and stroke-injured mouse brains. PEG-modification decreased the rate of EGF degradation by proteases, leading to a significant increase in protein accumulation at greater tissue depths than previously shown. Consequently, EGF and PEG-EGF increased NSPC proliferation in uninjured and stroke-injured brains; and in stroke-injured brains, PEG-EGF significantly increased NSPC stimulation. Our epi-cortical delivery system is a minimally-invasive method for local delivery to the brain, providing a new paradigm for local delivery to the brain.