Insights from mathematical modeling for convection-enhanced intraputamenal delivery of GDNF

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a potential therapy for Parkinson’s disease (PD) promoting survival and functional recovery of dopaminergic neurons when delivered to the degenerated striatum. To study the aspects of intraputamenal delivery of GDNF, a mathematical model of recombinant methionyl human GDNF (r-metHuGDNF) convection in the human putamen has been developed. The convection-enhanced delivery infusions of r-metHuGDNF were simulated at rates up to 5 μL/min. The high-rate infusions (≥1 μL/min) permit rapid and uniform distribution of drug with up to 75% of the distribution volume having a concentration within 5% of the infusate concentration. No relevant differences in distribution at infusion rates of 3 and 5 μL/min were found. The patterns of GDNF distribution were analyzed in relation to the anatomy of the posterior dorsal putamen, and a cylindrical shape was found to be preferable considering risks of target overflow. A magnetic resonance (MR) tracer Gd-DTPA (Magnevist®) was evaluated as a surrogate in clinical studies, and the most accurate prediction of GDNF distribution was calculated immediately after infusion. The clearance of GDNF from the striatum is confirmed to be slow, with a half-life of ca. 19 h.