Abstract 134: FK506 Delivering Conduit For Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

PURPOSE: Following a peripheral nerve injury, nerve gaps require grafts or conduits to connect the two nerve ends. There is a clinical need to improve functional recovery following nerve injury and local release of neurotrophic factors is one way to improve outcomes. FK506, an FDA approved small molecule, has been shown to enhance axon growth in vitro and peripheral nerve regeneration in vivo. Systemic delivery of FK506 has numerous potentially serious side effects such as central nervous system toxicity, infection and nephrotoxicity. Local delivery of FK506 from a nerve guide could provide the neurotrophic benefits of FK506 but prevent the negative consequence of systemic delivery. Here we describe the in vitro and in vivo outcomes when using a novel drug delivery apparatus integrated with a biocompatible polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) based nerve conduit for controlled local delivery of FK506.