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Updated: Jan 11, 2026
Synergetic Use of Neural Precursor Cells and Self-assembling Peptides in Experimental Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: February 23, 2015
Targeting peptide homes to spinal cord injury in a rat model
Jose A Castillo1, Michael Nhien Le, Kuan-Wei Huang
1From the Department of Surgery (J.A.C., M.N.L., K.-W.H., C.P., S.V., A.R., T.T., S.B., M.L., M.S., E.L., K.C., E.R., A.M.T.D., J.U., G.U., A.A.W., R.M.R.), University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California; and Department of Surgery (R.M.R.), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
Background:
CAQK (cysteine-alanine-lysine glutamine) is a homing peptide shown to selectively target injured regions of the brain. This study evaluated CAQK in a rodent model of spinal cord injury (SCI) to determine its localization capacity, dose-response characteristics, and temporal binding properties.
Methods:
This is a preclinical pharmacology study of a nanotherapeutic drug delivery system. Twenty-four adult rats underwent C6 right-sided spinal cord hemicontusion. Animals received a tail vein injection of cyanine5-labeled CAQK (CAQK-Cy5) at low (0.5 mg/kg), medium (1.0 mg/kg), or high dose (2.5 mg/kg) or matched doses of free Cy5 dye as a control (n = 3 per group). Localization was monitored via in vivo fluorescence imaging at 1 and 24 hours in all animals and up to 7 days in an additional cohort of high-dose CAQK-Cy5 and Cy5 animals. Spinal cords were harvested for ex vivo imaging and histological confirmation of CAQK-Cy5 accumulation.
Results:
In vivo imaging demonstrated CAQK-Cy5 signal at the SCI site within 1-hour postinjection, which persisted up to 7 days in the high-dose group. Signal intensity was dose dependent and declined over time. No significant localization was observed in control animals or uninjured spinal regions.
Conclusion:
CAQK rapidly and selectively localizes to injured spinal cord tissue in a dose-responsive manner, with peak accumulation observed within 24 hours. These findings support its potential as a targeted delivery vector for injectable therapeutics in acute SCI.
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