Glatiramer acetate persists at the injection site and draining lymph nodes via electrostatically-induced aggregation.

ABSTRACT: Glatiramer acetate (GA) is widely prescribed for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, however, the mechanism of action is still not fully understood. We investigated the structural properties of GA and examined alterations to the drug upon injection into the subcutaneous space. First, a variety of biophysical characterization techniques were employed to characterize GA in solution. GA was found to exist as alpha helices in solution with a hydrodynamic radius of ~3 nm in size. To simulate GA behavior at the site of injection, GA was injected into a solution of 1.5 MDa hyaluronic acid (HA). Visible aggregates were observed immediately upon injection and subsequent testing indicated aggregation was driven by electrostatic interactions between the positively-charged GA and

SUBMITTER: Song JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6372117 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature