Intraspinal Delivery of Polyethylene Glycol-coated Gold Nanoparticles Promotes Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury.

Abstract

Failure of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) to regenerate effectively after injury leads to mostly irreversible functional impairment. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are promising candidates for drug delivery in combination with tissue-compatible reagents, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEG administration in CNS injury models has received interest for potential therapy, but toxicity and low bioavailability prevents clinical application. Here we show that intraspinal delivery of PEG-functionalized 40-nm-AuNPs at early stages after mouse spinal cord injury is beneficial for recovery. Positive outcome of hind limb motor function was accompanied by attenuated inflammatory response, enhanced motor neuron survival, and increased myelination of spared or regrown/sprouted axons. No adverse effects, such as body weight loss, ill health, or increased mortality were observed. We propose that PEG-AuNPs represent a favorable drug-delivery platform with therapeutic potential that could be further enhanced if PEG-AuNPs are used as carriers of regeneration-promoting molecules.

• Authors: Florentia Papastefanaki, Igor Jakovcevski, Nafsika Poulia, Nevena Djogo, Florian Schulz, Tamara Martinovic, Darko Ciric, Gabrielle Loers, Tobias Vossmeyer, Horst Weller, Melitta Schachner, Rebecca Matsas
• Journal: Molecular therapy : the journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy (Mol Ther) Vol. 23 Issue 6 Pg. 993-1002 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1525-0024 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25807288 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Coated Materials, Biocompatible
• Polyethylene Glycols
• Gold

Topics

• Animals
• Coated Materials, Biocompatible (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Delivery Systems (methods)
• Female
• Gold (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Metal Nanoparticles (chemistry)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Polyethylene Glycols (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Recovery of Function (drug effects)
• Spinal Cord Injuries (drug therapy)