Healing efficacy of fracture-targeted GSK3β inhibitor-loaded micelles for improved fracture repair

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the fracture healing capabilities of a GSK3β inhibitor, 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime, coupled with an aspartic acid octapeptide in a micellar delivery system. Materials & methods: The efficacy of the intravenously administered micelles to accelerate healing of femoral fracture in mice was evaluated. Micro-computed tomography analysis was employed to obtain bone density, total volume, relative volume, trabecular thickness and trabecular spacing.Results: Both fracture bone mineral density and volume were significantly higher in the micelle treatment groups when compared with controls. The fracture-targeted micelle demonstrates fracture-specific bone anabolism and biocompatibility in off-target tissues. Conclusion: Accelerated fracture healing in mice was achieved by targeting the GSK3β inhibitor, 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime, to the fracture site.