Fenofibrate-loaded PLGA microparticles: effects on ischemic stroke

Many drugs are not able to cross the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and, thus, cannot reach a target site within the Central Nervous System (CNS). Local controlled drug delivery can help to overcome this restriction. However, this is a highly challenging approach and only one product is yet available on the market: Gliadel, which is used to reduce the risk of local tumor recurrence upon resection of malignant glioma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of local controlled drug delivery to the CNS to reduce the consequences of ischemic stroke. Fenofibrate as well as its active metabolite fenofibric acid were encapsulated within PLGA microparticles. Importantly, fenofibrate-loaded microparticles effectively reduced the consequences of ischemic stroke in Wistar rats: the total, cortical and striatal infarct volumes decreased from 257 to 197, 193 to 139, and 64 to 58 mm(3), respectively. Interestingly, fenofibric acid-loaded microparticles did not show significant in vivo efficacy, which might be attributable to a potentially limited distribution pattern within the brain and/or limited cell uptake. Thus, local controlled drug delivery to the CNS also has a significant potential for the treatment/prevention of other types of diseases than cancer. Furthermore, this approach can help to provide proof of concept in vivo in the early drug discovery phase, if the drug candidate cannot cross the BBB.