Thermo-sensitive assembly of the biomaterial REP reduces hematoma volume following collagenase-induced intracerebral hemorrhage in rats

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) frequently results in severe disabilities and high mortality. RGD-containing elastin-like polypeptide (REP), a modified elastin-like polypeptide (ELP), is a thermally responsive biopolymer. REP has high affinity for cells and is known to show non-immunotoxicity, -cytotoxicity, and -inflammatory responses. Here we found that administration of REP in the acute phase of the ICH rat model reduced the hematoma volume, decreased the number of activated microglia, attenuated the expression of von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and prevented the leakage of immunoglobulin G (IgG) into the cerebral parenchyma without any occlusion of intact microvessels. Therefore, the present data suggest that REP treatment could be a novel therapeutic strategy for attenuating the acute phase of ICH.

Graphical AbstractIntracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one of the most lethal diseases and results in severe disabilities and high mortality worldwide. RGD-containing elastin-like polypeptide (REP) is cell-adhesive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP). Using favorable features of REP such as non-toxic but highly biocompatible to live cells, we administered REP through the right common carotid artery after ICH.In this study, we demonstrated that the administration of REP reduced the hematoma volume, prevented the leakage of the blood component into the cerebroparenchyma, and attenuated the migration of activated microglia to the perihematoma area.These data indicate that REP treatment attenuates the reduction of the ICH injury, including the inflammatory responses.183