Poly (D,L-Lactide-co-Glycolide) Nanoparticles Loaded with Cerebrolysin Display Neuroprotective Activity in a Rat Model of Concussive Head Injury

Cerebrolysin (CBL) is a neuroprotective agent in central nervous system (CNS) injury and stimulates neurorepair processes. Several studies in our laboratory suggest that CBL administered through nanowired technology may have superior neuroprotective efficacy in CNS trauma. In this investigation, we compared the neuroprotective efficacy of poly-lactide-co-glycolide nanoparticles (NPs) loaded with CBL vs free CBL in a rat model of concussive head injury (CHI). Free CBL or CBL loaded NPs was administered 30 min to 1 h after CHI and animals were sacrificed 5 h later. Changes in blood-brain barrier and brain edema formation were measured as parameters of neuroprotection in CHI after giving CBL alone or as the nanodelivered compound. Our results clearly show that delivery of CBL by NPs has superior neuroprotective effects following CHI as compared to normal CBL. This suggests that CBL delivered by NPs could have robust neuroprotective action in CNS trauma. These findings have potential clinical relevance with regard to nanodelivery of CBL, a feature that requires further investigation.