Nerve growth factor delivery systems

Haller, M.F. and Saltzman, W.M., Nerve growth factor delivery systems, /. Control. Release, 53,1, 1998. 

As an alternative to targeting brain tumours which express the TfR, the transferrin approach can be used for the delivery of fusion proteins which bind to pharmacological receptors inside the central nervous system. An example of this is the construct consisting of nerve growth factor (NGF) and transferrin described in Section 11.8.2.3. The transferrin moiety in this type of construct will enable it to enter the brain, upon which the drug moiety will act by binding to its receptor. This approach seems especially suitable for compounds that cannot pass the blood-brain barrier, such as peptides and other hydrophilic substances. 

Initial studies by CytoTherapeutics, Inc. (later StemCells, Inc.), which led to the development of HuCNS-SC, focused on the delivery of protein neurotrophic factors into the neural system. In particular, studies focused on the transfer of human nerve growth factor (NGF) into neurodegenerative animal models [199982], [199983], [225755], [243560],... 

Microspheres prepared from hyaluronan esters have been evaluated for the vaginal administration of calcitonin in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Microspheres prepared from hyaluronan esters have also been used experimentally as delivery devices for nerve growth factors, and as a nasal delivery system for insulin. ... 

Saltzman WM, Mak MW, Mahoney MJ, Duenas ET, Cleland JL. Intracranial delivery of recombinant nerve growth factor release kinetics and protein distribution for three delivery systems. Pharm Res 1999 16 232-240. 

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