Research Training Group 2154 - Materials for Brain

Project 7: Luise Schlotterose

Rescue me! Approaches to overcome the brain foreign body response towards implant materials

Materials implanted into the brain may be used for application of therapeutic drugs in various neurological diseases. Through direct delivery at the target site, lower doses are required, and systemic side-effects can be minimised. Also, pharmacokinetic issues like bioavailability and passage through the blood-brain barrier can be avoided. Implantation of any kind of material into the brain however does often cause a harmful tissue response, leading to an acute inflammatory reaction and the formation of a fibrous sheath composed of glial cells and extracellular matrix components around the implanted material. This is commonly referred to as glial scar and can impair drug release significantly. Similarly, a glial scar can impede the function of electrodes implanted into the brain tissue. 
This project aims at evaluation of different approaches for overcoming tissue reactions towards implanted materials. 
Different model systems, for example in vitro cell cultures of astrocystes and microglia or murine organotypic brain slices will be used in order to identify drug substances suitable for mildening neuroinflammation during acute inflammatory reaction. Furthermore, in cooperation with project 6, hydrogels with specific chemical and physical properties will be used for mimicking of glial scar tissue.