User login
Photo by Aaron Logan
Researchers have used a 3D printer to create a carrier that allows for local and sustained delivery of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA) after cell transplantation.
The carrier is a combination of microspheres and hydrogel. In murine experiments, it delivered a local, sustained load of CsA in an amount that eliminated the need for additional drugs to treat immune rejection.
The researchers described these results in Cell Transplantation.
“Our objective was to show the feasibility of using a subcutaneous, 3D-printed drug delivery system to achieve local and sustained CsA release and to investigate the local immunosuppressive effects of the CsA after cell transplantation,” said study author Dong-Woo Cho, PhD, of the Pohang University of Science and Technology in Korea.
“The improved load-bearing capacity of the combined microsphere and hydrogel system, and its ability to maintain its integrity and shape during the implantation period, helped to deliver a sustained CsA release, preventing the acceleration of the secretion of cytokines related to immune rejection.”
The researchers noted that CsA improves the success rate of transplants, but systemic administration requires high doses that can have severe side effects. The benefit of a carrier is that it provides local drug delivery.
Other research groups have attempted CsA delivery via either microspheres or hydrogels, but most encountered serious problems, such as embolisms or organ damage due to migration of the microspheres from the injection site.
In addition, weak mechanical properties in some delivery systems caused premature dissolution and placed limitations on drug load quantity.
However, Dr Cho’s group said their carrier’s improved structure and load-bearing capacity allowed for sustained release of CsA at the desired site.
Their carrier is a hybrid of a CsA-poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid microsphere-loaded hydrogel and a polymeric framework, which ensures the carrier can endure external force under physiological conditions.
In in vitro experiments with the carrier, the researchers observed decreased expression of cytokines, which are secreted by spleen cells activated by Concanavalin A and are related to immune rejection.
The team also implanted in mice drug carriers seeded with xenogeneic cells, and they observed significant suppression of T-cell-mediated rejection for 4 weeks.
The researchers believe this study could help overcome existing cell transplantation limitations caused by systemic immunosuppression. They said their carrier could be a promising solution for treating a range of diseases that require cell-based therapy. 
Photo by Aaron Logan
Researchers have used a 3D printer to create a carrier that allows for local and sustained delivery of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA) after cell transplantation.
The carrier is a combination of microspheres and hydrogel. In murine experiments, it delivered a local, sustained load of CsA in an amount that eliminated the need for additional drugs to treat immune rejection.
The researchers described these results in Cell Transplantation.
“Our objective was to show the feasibility of using a subcutaneous, 3D-printed drug delivery system to achieve local and sustained CsA release and to investigate the local immunosuppressive effects of the CsA after cell transplantation,” said study author Dong-Woo Cho, PhD, of the Pohang University of Science and Technology in Korea.
“The improved load-bearing capacity of the combined microsphere and hydrogel system, and its ability to maintain its integrity and shape during the implantation period, helped to deliver a sustained CsA release, preventing the acceleration of the secretion of cytokines related to immune rejection.”
The researchers noted that CsA improves the success rate of transplants, but systemic administration requires high doses that can have severe side effects. The benefit of a carrier is that it provides local drug delivery.
Other research groups have attempted CsA delivery via either microspheres or hydrogels, but most encountered serious problems, such as embolisms or organ damage due to migration of the microspheres from the injection site.
In addition, weak mechanical properties in some delivery systems caused premature dissolution and placed limitations on drug load quantity.
However, Dr Cho’s group said their carrier’s improved structure and load-bearing capacity allowed for sustained release of CsA at the desired site.
Their carrier is a hybrid of a CsA-poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid microsphere-loaded hydrogel and a polymeric framework, which ensures the carrier can endure external force under physiological conditions.
In in vitro experiments with the carrier, the researchers observed decreased expression of cytokines, which are secreted by spleen cells activated by Concanavalin A and are related to immune rejection.
The team also implanted in mice drug carriers seeded with xenogeneic cells, and they observed significant suppression of T-cell-mediated rejection for 4 weeks.
The researchers believe this study could help overcome existing cell transplantation limitations caused by systemic immunosuppression. They said their carrier could be a promising solution for treating a range of diseases that require cell-based therapy.
Photo by Aaron Logan
Researchers have used a 3D printer to create a carrier that allows for local and sustained delivery of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA) after cell transplantation.
The carrier is a combination of microspheres and hydrogel. In murine experiments, it delivered a local, sustained load of CsA in an amount that eliminated the need for additional drugs to treat immune rejection.
The researchers described these results in Cell Transplantation.
“Our objective was to show the feasibility of using a subcutaneous, 3D-printed drug delivery system to achieve local and sustained CsA release and to investigate the local immunosuppressive effects of the CsA after cell transplantation,” said study author Dong-Woo Cho, PhD, of the Pohang University of Science and Technology in Korea.
“The improved load-bearing capacity of the combined microsphere and hydrogel system, and its ability to maintain its integrity and shape during the implantation period, helped to deliver a sustained CsA release, preventing the acceleration of the secretion of cytokines related to immune rejection.”
The researchers noted that CsA improves the success rate of transplants, but systemic administration requires high doses that can have severe side effects. The benefit of a carrier is that it provides local drug delivery.
Other research groups have attempted CsA delivery via either microspheres or hydrogels, but most encountered serious problems, such as embolisms or organ damage due to migration of the microspheres from the injection site.
In addition, weak mechanical properties in some delivery systems caused premature dissolution and placed limitations on drug load quantity.
However, Dr Cho’s group said their carrier’s improved structure and load-bearing capacity allowed for sustained release of CsA at the desired site.
Their carrier is a hybrid of a CsA-poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid microsphere-loaded hydrogel and a polymeric framework, which ensures the carrier can endure external force under physiological conditions.
In in vitro experiments with the carrier, the researchers observed decreased expression of cytokines, which are secreted by spleen cells activated by Concanavalin A and are related to immune rejection.
The team also implanted in mice drug carriers seeded with xenogeneic cells, and they observed significant suppression of T-cell-mediated rejection for 4 weeks.
The researchers believe this study could help overcome existing cell transplantation limitations caused by systemic immunosuppression. They said their carrier could be a promising solution for treating a range of diseases that require cell-based therapy.