THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF A POLYMER-ENCAPSULATED L-DOPA AND DOPAMINE-PRODUCING CELL-LINE IN RODENT AND PRIMATE MODELS OF PARKINSONS-DISEASE

Encapsulation of cells within polymer membranes prior to transplantati on provides a novel means of achieving continuous, site-specific deliv ery of therapeutic molecules to the CNS, The use of encapsulated dopam ine-secreting cells that can be transplanted directly into the striatu m has particular appeal for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, This article provides a brief and timely review of the progress that has b een made over the past decade using encapsulated PC12 cells as a means of delivering dopamine and L-DOPA to the striatum in rodent and prima te models of Parkinson's disease, The polymer membranes are well toler ated and biocompatible, Encapsulated PC12 cells survive in vivo for up to 6 mo, they release dopamine into the surrounding host striatum, an d they clearly improve behavioral function in both dopamine-depleted r odents and primates, Although these results are promising, fundamental issues remain concerning the er;tent of dopamine diffusion from the p olymer membranes and the number of devices needed for behavioral impro vement, and the duration and consistency of cell viability and device output, Nevertheless, this technology appears to be a promising means of avoiding many of the practical, societal, and ethical issues that h ave been associated with other transplantation approaches, (C) 1998 El sevier Science Inc.