Administration of Intact Mammalian Cells to the Brain by the Intranasal Route

Abstract

The present invention provides an intranasal method for delivery of intact mammalian cells to the brain for treatment of neurological deficits. This approach applies an intranasal instillation to directly administer cells to the brain, and is useful as therapy for patients with neurological deficit or those who may benefit from cellular therapy as a result of stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, traumatic injury, surgery, cancer, or other diseases of the brain. This non-invasive method of delivering neuronal cells is desirable and safe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for delivering intact mammalian cells to the brain of a mammal, comprising administering intranasally to a mammal a suspension of viable mammal neural progenitor cells, whereby the cells bypass the blood-brain-barrier and enter the brain of the mammal, wherein the suspension is administered in nose drops to a naris of the mammal. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension has 10-10,000 cells/ul. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension has 10,000 cells/ul. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension has 10-10,000 cells/ul and is 50 ul. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension has 10,000 cells/ul and is 50 ul. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension is administered in a liquid nasal spray, nose drops, ointment, pledget, submucosal infusion or mucoadhesive strip. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are suspended in neurobasal medium, phosphate-buffered saline or gel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are suspended in neurobasal medium. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suspension is administered 6-8 ul to each naris of the rat every 2-3 min over a total of 20 min. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are labeled with GFP. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are labeled with fluorospheres. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of detecting the cells in the brain of the mammal. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the suspension has 10-10,000 cells/ul, the cells are suspended in neurobasal medium and the suspension is administered 6-8 ul to each naris of the mammal every 2-3 min over a total of 20 min, further comprising the step of detecting the cells in the brain of the mammal. 
     
     
         14 . A method for delivering intact mammalian cells to the brain of a mammal, comprising administering intranasally and non-invasively by nose drops to a naris of a mammal a suspension of viable mammalian neural progenitor cells, whereby the cells bypass the blood-brain-barrier and enter the brain of the mammal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the suspension has 10-10,000 cells/ul. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the cells are suspended in neurobasal medium, phosphate-buffered saline or gel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the suspension is administered 6-8 ul to each naris of the mammal every 2-3 min over a total of 20 min. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of detecting the cells in the brain of the mammal. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the suspension has 10-10,000 cells/ul, the cells are suspended in neurobasal medium and the suspension is administered 6-8 ul to each naris of the mammal every 2-3 min over a total of 20 min, further comprising the step of detecting the cells in the brain of the mammal.