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Abstract #2816

Thermosensitive biodegradable hydrogels for sustained delivery of therapeutic proteins: MRI-based monitoring of in vitro and in vivo protein release

Geralda A.F. van Tilborg 1 , Pavel Yanev 1 , Kristel W.M. Boere 2 , Tina Vermonden 2 , Annette van der Toorn 1 , Wim E. Hennink 2 , and Rick M. Dijkhuizen 1

1 Biomedical MR Imaging and Spectroscopy Group, Image Sciences Institute, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands, 2 Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

Hydrogels have been suggested as novel drug carrier system for sustained release of therapeutic proteins in several disorders, including stroke. This study shows that biodegradable hydrogels, consisting of thermosensitive triblock polymers and thiolated hyaluronic acid, release ≥ 80% of their gadolinium-labeled albumin load within 2 days, both in vitro and in the brain of living animals. The presented MRI setup provides a unique opportunity to non-invasively monitor protein delivery to the brain through implanted hydrogels in living animals, which could aid in the development and assessment of such innovative drug carrier systems for prolonged drug delivery to injured brain tissue.

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