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Peripheral nerve regeneration studies with Karim Sarhane today? We performed a study with rodents and primates that showed this new delivery method provided steady release of IGF-1 at the target nerve for up to 6 weeks,” Dr. Karim Sarhane reported. Compared to animals without this hormone treatment, IGF-1 treated animals (rodents and primates) that were injected every 6 weeks showed a 30% increase in nerve recovery. This has the potential to be a very meaningful therapy for patients with nerve injuries. Not only do these results show increased nerve recovery but receiving a treatment every 6 weeks is much easier on a patient’s lifestyle than current available regiments that require daily treatment.

Dr. Sarhane is published in top-ranked bioengineering, neuroscience, and surgery journals. He holds a patent for a novel Nanofiber Nerve Wrap that he developed with his colleagues at the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology and the Johns Hopkins Department of Neuroscience (US Patent # 10500305, December 2019). He is the recipient of many research grants and research awards, including the Best Basic Science Paper at the Johns Hopkins Residents Research Symposium, the Basic Science Research Grant Prize from the American Foundation for Surgery of the Hand, the Research Pilot Grant Prize from the Plastic Surgery Foundation, and a Scholarship Award from the American College of Surgeons. He has authored to date 46 peer-reviewed articles, 11 book chapters, 45 peer-reviewed abstracts, and has 28 national presentations. He is an elected member of the Plastic Surgery Research Council, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Society for Reconstructive Transplantation, and the American Society for Peripheral Nerves.

Heparin is another upregulator of endogenous IGF-1 that was shown to be effective in promoting nerve and muscle recovery following PNI, as demonstrated by Madaschi et al. (2003) with intraperitoneal injection of a dosage of 1 mg/kg (Madaschi et al., 2003). The mechanism by which heparin, heparan sulfate, and dermatan sulfate have been reported to upregulate endogenous IGF-1 via disruption of IGF-I binding to Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Proteins (IGFBPs) (Madaschi et al., 2003). Heparin is also thought to inhibit the binding of IGFBP-3 to extracellular matrix heparan sulfate proteoglycans, thereby reducing the affinity of IGFBPs for IGF-I administration and resulting in the release of IGFBP-3 from the cell surface (Gorio et al., 2001). A similar approach shown to be effective in three separate studies utilizes systemically injected glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) comprised of 64.4% heparin, 28.8% dermatan sulfate, and 6.7% chondroitin sulfate. The effectiveness of GAGs in enhancing the recovery process following PNI was evidenced by a marked increase in IGF-1 levels in denervated muscle, leading to enhanced recovery as measured by nerve-evoked muscle force testing and the extent of muscle reinnervation (Gorio et al., 1998, 2001; Losa et al., 1999).

Recovery by sustained IGF-1 delivery (Karim Sarhane research) : To realize the therapeutic potential of IGF-1 treatment for PNIs, we designed, optimized, and characterized a novel local delivery system for small proteins using a new FNP-based encapsulation method that offers favorable encapsulation efficiency with retained bioactivity and a sustained release profile for over 3 weeks. The IGF-1 NPs demonstrated favorable in vivo release kinetics with high local loading levels of IGF-1 within target muscle and nerve tissue.

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) affect approximately 67 800 people annually in the United States alone (Wujek and Lasek, 1983; Noble et al., 1998; Taylor et al., 2008). Despite optimal management, many patients experience lasting motor and sensory deficits, the majority of whom are unable to return to work within 1 year of the injury (Wujek and Lasek, 1983). The lack of clinically available therapeutic options to enhance nerve regeneration and functional recovery remains a major challenge.

Peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs) affect approximately 67 800 people annually in the United States alone (Wujek and Lasek, 1983; Noble et al., 1998; Taylor et al., 2008). Despite optimal management, many patients experience lasting motor and sensory deficits, the majority of whom are unable to return to work within 1 year of the injury (Wujek and Lasek, 1983). The lack of clinically available therapeutic options to enhance nerve regeneration and functional recovery remains a major challenge.