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Dexamethasone Controlled Release on TGF-β1 Treated Vocal Fold Fibroblasts
Aaron M Kosinski1, Jewel M Pothen1, Alyssa Panitch1
1Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Objective:
Corticosteroids may be beneficial in treating vocal fold scarring. Current drug delivery methods do not permit controlled corticosteroid release. Here we investigate the effects of poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microparticles loaded with the corticosteroid dexamethasone in reducing collagen synthesis and inflammation in vocal fold fibroblasts treated with and without TGF-β1.
Study Design:
Experimental, in vitro study.
Methods:
PLGA microparticles of differing molecular weight and terminating moieties were synthesized using a hydrogel template method. The release of dexamethasone was characterized from these microparticles over 4 days. Based on the release studies, ester-terminated low molecular weight PLGA microparticles were loaded with dexamethasone and applied to TGF-β1 treated vocal fold fibroblasts for 4 days. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to assess the effects of released dexamethasone on collagen synthesis and inflammatory mediators.
Results:
COL3A1 and COL1A2 were significantly down-regulated after exposure to ester-terminated low molecular weight PLGA microparticles loaded with dexamethasone. The loaded microparticles also reduced interleukin-6 synthesis.
Conclusion:
These data show promise in using a PLGA microparticle-based delivery system to control dexamethasone release over 4 days. Our findings lay the groundwork for developing more effective treatments for vocal fold scarring.
