Preparation of a minocycline polymer micelle thermosensitive gel and its application in spinal cord injury

This study introduces a new way to deliver minocycline (MC), a drug that protects nerve cells, to treat spinal cord injuries (SCI). The approach involves encapsulating MC in tiny spheres called micelles, made from a combination of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly(lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). These micelles are then incorporated into a special gel that becomes solid at body temperature, allowing for sustained release of the drug directly at the injury site. This method aims to overcome the limitations of MC, such as its instability and poor absorption, to improve its effectiveness in treating SCI. The results showed that this new formulation, called MCPP-M-gel, helped nerve cells regenerate and improved functional recovery in rats with SCI, suggesting it could be a promising treatment strategy for SCI and other neurodegenerative diseases.

• 1
  MCPP-M-gel demonstrated favorable physico-mechanical properties and extended MC release over 72 hours in vitro without cytotoxic effects on neural crest-derived ectoderm mesenchymal stem cells (EMSCs).
• 2
  Histopathological evaluation demonstrated that MCPP-M-gel could promote neuronal regeneration at the injured site of the SC after 28 days.
• 3
  Immunofluorescence techniques revealed that MCPP-M-gel increased the expression of neuronal class III b-tubulin (Tuj1), myelin basic protein (MBP), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), neurofilament protein-200 (NF-200) and nestin as well as reduced glial-fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression in damaged areas of the SC.