Journal article

In vivo biocompatibility and in vitro characterization of poly-lactide-co-glycolide structures containing levetiracetam, for the treatment of epilepsy

AJ Halliday, TE Campbell, JM Razal, KJ McLean, TS Nelson, MJ Cook, GG Wallace

Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A | WILEY-BLACKWELL | Published : 2012

Abstract

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, and is highly resistant to medication with up to 40% of patients continuing to experience seizures whilst taking oral antiepileptic drugs. Recent research suggests that this may be due to abnormalities in the blood-brain barrier, which prevent the passage of therapeutic substances into the brain. We sought to develop a drug delivery material that could be implanted within the brain at the origin of the seizures to release antiepileptic drugs locally and avoid the blood brain barrier. We produced poly-lactide-co-glycolide drop-cast films and wet-spun fibers loaded with the novel antiepileptic drug Levetiracetam, ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

[ "Contract grant sponsors: Victorian Government through its Science Technology and Innovation Initiative from the Department of Industry, Innovation, and Regional Development; ARC Federation Fellowship (to G. G. W.); Australian Research Council for the APD Fellowship (to J.M.R.)", "The authors acknowledge the donation of Levetiracetam from UCB Pharma, and the sponsorships of Victorian Government and ARC. The Bionic Ear Institute acknowledges the support it receives from the Victorian Government through its Operational Infrastructure Support Program and the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust." ]