Abstract
Drug delivery nanoparticles (NPs) based entirely on materials generally recognized as safe that provide widespread parenchymal distribution following intracranial administration via convection-enhanced delivery (CED) are introduced. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NPs are coated with various poloxamers, including F68, F98, or F127, via physical adsorption to render particle surfaces non-adhesive, thereby resisting interactions with brain extracellular matrix. F127-coated PLGA (F127/PLGA) NPs provide markedly greater distribution in healthy rat brains compared to uncoated NPs and widespread coverage in orthotopically-established brain tumors. Distribution analysis of variously-sized F127/PLGA NPs determines the average rat brain tissue porosity to be between 135 and 170 nm while revealing unprecedented brain coverage of larger F127/PLGA NPs with an aid of hydraulic pressure provided by CED. Importantly, F127/PLGA NPs can be lyophilized for long-term storage without compromising their ability to penetrate the brain tissue. Further, 65- and 200-nm F127/PLGA NPs lyophilized-reconstituted and administered in a moderately hyperosmolar infusate solution show further enhance particle dissemination in the brain via osmotically-driven enlargement of the brain tissue porosity. Combination of F127/PLGA NPs and osmotic tissue modulation provides a means with a clear regulatory path to maximize the brain distribution of large NPs that enable greater drug loading and prolong drug release.