PCL-b-PEO Micelles as a Delivery Vehicle for FK506: Assessment of a Functional Recovery of Crushed Peripheral Nerve
- 1 January 2000
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Drug Delivery
- Vol. 7 (3) , 139-145
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10717540050120179
Abstract
The aim of this work was to test in vivo a new block copolymer-based delivery system containing lipophilic drug FK506, known as Tacrolimus. Tacrolimus is currently used in clinics as an immunosupressant agent, and more recently it has been shown that it can exert neurotrophic effects. We prepared, characterized, and assessed polycaprolactone-b-polyethylenoxyde (PCL-b-PEO) micelles containing FK506 in vitro and in vivo. By using well-established animal model of peripheral nerve injury (crushed sciatic nerve), we show that the rate of functional recovery of injured nerve is significantly enhanced in rats treated with micellar FK506. These findings support the notion that PCL-b-PEO is a suitable polymer material for FK506 and suggest its wider applicability as a delivery vehicle for other biologically active, poorly soluble therapeutic agents.Keywords
This publication has 18 references indexed in Scilit:
- Polycaprolactone–b-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer micelles as a delivery vehicle for dihydrotestosteroneJournal of Controlled Release, 1999
- Nano-engineering block copolymer aggregates for drug deliveryColloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 1999
- Polymeric micelles – a new generation of colloidal drug carriersEuropean Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 1999
- Polycaprolactone-b-poly(ethylene Oxide) Block Copolymer Micelles as a Novel Drug Delivery Vehicle for Neurotrophic Agents FK506 and L-685,818Bioconjugate Chemistry, 1998
- Oral administration of a nonimmunosuppressant FKBP-12 ligand speeds nerve regenerationNeuroReport, 1998
- A Nonimmunosuppressant FKBP-12 Ligand Increases Nerve RegenerationExperimental Neurology, 1997
- Predominant role of local immunosuppressive effect in enhanced efficacy of liposomal FK506 in organ transplantationTransplantation Proceedings, 1997
- THE ENHANCED IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE EFFICACY OF NEWLY DEVELOPED LIPOSOMAL FK506 IN CANINE LIVER TRANSPLANTATIONTransplantation, 1995
- THE PHARMACOKINETIC BENEFITS OF NEWLY DEVELOPED LIPOSOME-INCORPORATED FK506Transplantation, 1994
- The immunophilins, FK506 binding protein and cyclophilin, are discretely localized in the brain: relationship to calcineurinNeuroscience, 1994