Injectable Neurotrophic Factor Delivery System Supporting Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival and Regeneration Following Optic Nerve Crush.

ABSTRACT: In general, neurons belonging to the central nervous system (CNS), such as retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), do not regenerate. Due to this, strategies have emerged aimed at protecting and regenerating these cells. Neurotrophic factor (NTF) supplementation has been a promising approach but is limited by length of delivery and delivery vehicle. For this study, we tested a polymeric delivery system (sulfonated reverse thermal gel or SRTG) engineered to deliver cilliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), while also being injectable. A rat optic nerve crush (ONC) model was used to determine the neuroprotective and regenerative capacity of our system. The results demonstrate that one single intravitreal injection of SRTG-CNTF following ONC showed significant protection of RGC survival at both 1 and 2 wee

SUBMITTER: Laughter MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6701853 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature