J.Park, J.E.Babensee (unpublished data)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (CNS) wherein the immune system attacks the myelin sheath and is characterized by inflammation, demyelination, neuronal loss, and gliosis (scarring). MS is the most common cause of chronic neurological disability beginning in the prime of people’s adult working lives and affects about 2.3 million people around the world, with females experiencing it more often than males. Clinically active and progressive MS is treated with drugs such as IFNb-1a, glatiramer acetate, teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, mitoxantrone, alemtuzumab, and natalizumab. While these drugs slow MS progression, they only reduce the symptom severity and disease progression.
Antigen-specific DC-based immunotherapies are being considered to replace the above noted broadly immunosuppressive drug therapies to reduce patient risks and maximize therapeutic outcomes. DCs are antigen presenting cells that are capable of efficiently presenting antigen to naïve T cells and hence plays a rate-limiting role for neuroinflammation in both early phases and during disease progression. Local delivery via a biomaterial system, PEG hydrogel can be utilized to facilitate effective delivery while preventing their activation.