Levetiracetam-loaded biodegradable polymer implants in the tetanus toxin model of temporal lobe epilepsy in rats

Authors

Amy J. Halliday, University of Wollongong
Toni E. Campbell, University of WollongongFollow
Timothy S. Nelson, The Bionic Ear Institute
Karen J. McLean, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
Gordon G. Wallace, University of WollongongFollow
Mark J. Cook, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

RIS ID

73881

Publication Details

Halliday, A. J., Campbell, T. E., Nelson, T. S., McLean, K. J., Wallace, G. G. & Cook, M. J. (2013). Levetiracetam-loaded biodegradable polymer implants in the tetanus toxin model of temporal lobe epilepsy in rats. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 20 (1), 148-152.

Abstract

Approximately one-third of people with epilepsy receive insufficient benefit from currently available anticonvulsant medication, and some evidence suggests that this may be due to a lack of effective penetration into brain parenchyma. The current study investigated the ability of biodegradable polymer implants loaded with levetiracetam to ameliorate seizures following implantation above the motor cortex in the tetanus toxin model of temporal lobe epilepsy in rats. The implants led to significantly shorter seizures and a trend towards fewer seizures for up to 1 week. The results of this study indicate that drug-eluting polymer implants represent a promising evolving treatment option for intractable epilepsy. Future research is warranted to investigate issues of device longevity and implantation site.