Long-acting and extended-release implant and nanoformulations with a synergistic antiretroviral two-drug combination controls HIV-1 infection in a humanized mouse model.

The HIV pandemic has affected over 38 million people worldwide with close to 26 million currently accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART). A major challenge in the long-term treatment of HIV-1 infection is nonadherence to ART. Long-acting antiretroviral (LA-ARV) formulations, that reduce dosing frequency to less than once a day, are an urgent need that could tackle the adherence issue.

Engineering alginate microparticles for optimized accumulation in fetal rat myelomeningocele.

Introduction: Intraamniotic microparticle injection is a novel technique for the treatment of myelomeningocele (MMC) in which microparticles are delivered in-utero in a minimally invasive fashion to bind to and protect the exposed spinal cord. This technique could offer earlier intervention and greater access to prenatal treatment of MMC. Here we demonstrate progress on the engineering of the microparticles to promote binding to the MMC defect.

Alginate microparticles loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor induce tissue coverage in a rat model of myelomeningocele.

Background/purpose: We sought to develop a minimally invasive intra-amniotic therapy for prenatal treatment of myelomeningocele (MMC) in an established rat model.

Methods: Time-dated pregnant rats were gavage-fed retinoic acid to induce MMC. Groups received intraamniotic injections at E17.