Intrathecal delivery of a polymeric nanocomposite hydrogel after spinal cord injury

Major traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) results in permanent paralysis below the site of injury. The effectiveness of systemically delivered pharmacological therapies against SCI can be limited by the blood-spinal cord barrier and side effects. Local drug delivery to the injured spinal cord can be achieved using a minimally invasive biopolymer matrix of hyaluronan and methylcellulose injected into the intrathecal space, bypassing the blood-spinal cord barrier and overcoming limitations of existing strategies. Composite hydrogels of drug-loaded poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles dispersed in this biopolymer matrix meet the in vitro design criteria for prolonged local release. Using a blank (without drug) composite designed for 28-day sustained release, we presently explore the mechanism of particle-mediated hydrogel stabilization in vitro and aspects of biocompatibility and safety in vivo. The composite hydrogel is well tolerated in the intrathecal space of spinal cord injured rats, showing no increase in inflammation, scarring, or cavity volume relative to controls, and no significant effect on locomotor function up to 28 days. Furthermore, there was no effect on locomotor function in healthy animals which received the composite hydrogel, although a qualitative increase in ED-1 staining was apparent. These data support the further development of composite hydrogels of hyaluronan and methylcellulose containing PLGA nanoparticles for sustained local delivery to the injured spinal cord, an application for which there are no approved alternatives.