This work was supported by grants of the University of Zurich (FK-15-057), the Novartis Foundation for medical-biological Research (16C231) and Swiss Cancer Research (KFS-3852-02-2016, KFS-4146-02-2017) to Johannes vom Berg and BRIDGE Proof of Concept (20B1-1_177300) to Linda Schellhammer.

All methods described here have been approved by the Swiss Cantonal Veterinary Office under license number ZH246/15.
1. Preparation of the Step Catheters
<ol>
	<li>Preparation of a fused silica tubing for the step of the catheter
	<ol>
		<li>Cut the fused silica capillary with inner diameter of 0.1 mm and wall thickness of 0.0325 mm tubing to a length of 30 mm.</li>
		<li>Examine the tubing for cracks and heat polish the ends using a microforge to ensure the tubing openings have a smooth surface.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Fixation of the inner tube in a metal needle
	<ol>
		<li>Mount a 27 G needle on a 10 &#956;L&#160;syringe and place the syringe in a stereotactic robot.</li>
		<li>Using the robot, move the syringe over a hard surface and touch it with the needle tip. This position should be noted or saved in the software because it will serve as a reference surface for setting the length of the catheter step.</li>
		<li>Elevate the needle to enable placing of the fused silica capillary inside of the needle</li>
		<li>Place the fused silica capillary in the needle such that 20 mm of the capillary is protruding from the needle.</li>
		<li>Using a pipette, evenly spread 2 &#956;L of high viscosity cyanoacrylate adhesive over the capillary, starting from the metal needle and finishing 10 mm above the lower end of the capillary, as depicted in Figure 2.</li>
		<li>Using the stereotactic robot, lower the needle until the tip of the metal needle is 1 mm over the reference surface. This way the fused silica capillary will be fixed in the metal needle and will form a 1 mm step from the tip of the metal needle. Remove any excess of glue forming at the end of the metal needle to avoid blunting the step.&#160;</li>
		<li>Wait 15 min for the glue to harden and remove the syringe with the catheter from the stereotactic robot.&#160;Confirm that at the step all excess glue has been removed by checking the tip of the catheter under a microscope.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Testing the step catheter using a block of agarose
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare 0.6% agarose solution in PBS in a conventional gel tray and wait until it polymerizes. Cut the agarose in approximately 20 mm x 20 mm blocks. Until use, keep the blocks immersed in PBS.</li>
		<li>Manually fill the step catheter syringe with 10 &#956;L of 0.4% solution of filtered trypan blue.</li>
		<li>Using the stereotactic robot, dispense 1 &#956;L at 0.2 &#956;L/min in order to assess sealing of the step of the catheter during the fixation procedure. Trypan blue solution should be visible solely on the tip of the catheter. Wipe it off with a paper tissue.</li>
		<li>Place the agarose block in the stereotactic robot and calibrate the robot so the tip of the catheter is referenced against the surface of the agarose block.</li>
		<li>Program the injection parameters for CED.
		<ol>
			<li>For the injection volume of 5 &#181;L, use the following steps: 1 &#181;L at 0.2 &#181;L/min, then 2 &#181;L at 0.5 &#181;L/min and 2 &#181;L at 0.8 &#181;L/min. Adjust the final injection volume according to the specific experimental plan by proportionally changing the duration of each of the steps.</li>
			<li>In order to inject the solution into murine caudate putamen (striatum), perform such injection in a position 1 mm frontal and 1.5&#8211;2 mm lateral from bregma at the depth of 3.5 mm.</li>
			<li>After the injection, leave the catheter in place for 2 min and then retract at 1 mm/min to ensure proper dispersion of the fluid in the brain and sealing of the injection tract during catheter removal. 
			NOTE: Depending on the specific stereotactic robot used, all the parameters can be programmed into a single script. An example script is available as <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/59675/CED_5_ul_striatum.txt" target="_blank">Supplementary Material.</a>.</li>
		</ol>
		</li>
		<li>Start the CED procedure and inject 5 &#956;L of trypan blue solution into the agarose block.</li>
		<li>Assess the shape of cloud of trypan blue in the agarose and potential leakage along the catheter tract. Trypan blue should form an ellipsoid or a round cloud with the center around the catheter tip and a diameter of at least 1 mm. No major backflow over the tip of the metal needle should be visible.</li>
		<li>Place a new agarose block and start a second injection of 1 &#181;L at 0.2 &#181;L/min in order to assess clogging of the catheter with the agarose. Trypan blue should again start forming a cloud from the tip of the catheter immediately after the start of the injection.</li>
		<li>Assess whether the leftover volume in the syringe corresponds to 3 &#181;L. Any variations might point towards a leakage of fluid through the catheter mounting or syringe plunger.</li>
		<li>If all the test injections are successful, the catheter is well sealed, straight and no trypan blue solution is observed from other spots than the catheter tip, wash the catheter with deionized H2O (dH2O) until no traces of trypan blue are visible and then wash ten times as follows: 70% ethanol and 100% ethanol followed by flushing again with 70% ethanol and clean deionized water.</li>
		<li>Store the catheter under dry conditions.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>
2. Convection-enhanced Delivery of Antibody Solution into the Murine Brain
NOTE: Depending on local animal welfare regulations, various types of anesthetics, analgesics and antibiotics can be implemented for this procedure. This protocol describes the use of injection anesthesia. Inhalation anesthetics such as isoflurane can also be used by mounting a nose mask on the stereotactic frame. In addition, we recommend adding antibiotics to the drinking water for infection prophylaxis.
<ol>
	<li>Surgical setup
	<ol>
		<li>Prepare anesthetics and antidote solutions. Mice can be safely anesthetized using a three-component anesthesia containing fentanyl (0.05 mg/kg), midazolam (5 mg/kg) and medetomidine (0.5 mg/kg) diluted in sterile dH2O. We perform a two-step wake up procedure using two antidote solutions, one containing flumazenil (0.5 mg/kg) and buprenorphine (0.1 mg/kg) in sterile dH2O (first antidote solution). The second one contains atipamezole (2.5 mg/kg) in sterile dH2O (second antidote solution).</li>
		<li>Prepare analgesia solution containing carprofen (5.667 mg/kg) diluted with sterile dH2O.</li>
		<li>Clean the stereotactic frame, heating pad and elements of the stereotactic robot. Bear in mind that not all the parts of the robot can be cleaned without risk of damage. Refer to the manual of the robot for details on cleaning and preparing for usage.</li>
		<li>Assemble the syringe with the step catheter and flush it multiple times with dH2O, 70% ethanol and 100% ethanol followed by flushing again with 70% ethanol and dH2O. Finally, flush the syringe with PBS or other buffers to be used for preparation of the solution for intracranial injection, e.g. artificial cerebrospinal fluid. The plunger of the syringe should move smoothly and freely during the whole procedure.</li>
		<li>Calibrate the stereotactic robot software with the stereotactic frame.</li>
		<li>Test the stereotactic robot software by ensuring that the robot arms move freely and that the injection pump is properly connected and can perform the CED procedure without any disturbances. This includes testing robot movement, ramping injection, checking the 2 min waiting step and the speed of catheter retraction. All the parameters should fit the preprogrammed CED procedure described in point 1.3.5.</li>
		<li>Insert the drill bit in the drill. It is recommended to sterilize the drill bits before use.</li>
		<li>Prepare antibody solution using PBS or other buffer solutions such as aCSF. 1 to 20 &#181;g of antibody in 5 &#181;L can be injected in a single CED procedure. Other volumes and protein amounts should be tested prior to performing the experiment. Be aware that using high viscosity solutions might lead to catheter clogging.</li>
		<li>Manually load the syringe with the diluted antibody.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Antibody injection by CED into striatum
	<ol>
		<li>Weigh the mouse and inject the three-component anesthesia solution into the peritoneum according to the body weight. Note the injection time. Transfer the mouse to a separate cage heated with a heating pad.</li>
		<li>Observe the mouse to determine when the sedation starts. As soon as the mouse stops moving, apply ophthalmic ointment on the eyes to protect the cornea from drying out during the surgery. Full sedation usually starts 10&#8211;15 min from the injection of the three-component anesthesia solution.</li>
		<li>Check pain reactions using the pinch-reflex test to ensure full anesthesia of the animal.</li>
		<li>Shave the head using a hair trimmer.</li>
		<li>Disinfect the skin with cotton swabs soaked in iodine solution.&#160;Scrub the skin three times in circular motion.</li>
		<li>Using a scalpel, make a 10 mm skin incision along the cranial midline finishing on the eye level.</li>
		<li>Fix the mouse in the stereotactic frame using the nose clamp and ear bars. Ensure that the skull surface is horizontal and tightly secured. Apart from correct anatomical navigation this is also crucial to avoid tilting of the skull during the drilling and the CED procedure.</li>
		<li>Place the syringe in the stereotactic robot.</li>
		<li>Synchronize the drill bit with the tip of the catheter on a reference point. It is crucial that the relation between the position of the drill and the syringe is precisely determined in the software, so the injection can be performed in the desired anatomical region of the brain.</li>
		<li>Retract the skin using forceps and localize bregma on the skull surface.</li>
		<li>Reference bregma in the software using the tip of the drill bit.</li>
		<li>Move the drill to a position 1 mm frontal and 2 mm lateral from bregma and drill a burr hole. Be careful not to damage the dura mater.</li>
		<li>Move the syringe over the burr hole.</li>
		<li>Dispense 0.5&#8211;1 &#956;L from the syringe to ensure that no air bubbles are left in the catheter.</li>
		<li>Start the CED program described in point 1.3.5. Observe the skull surface for any traces of fluid backflow from the injection spot. Monitor the breathing rate of the animal.</li>
		<li>Once the CED program is over and the catheter is withdrawn from the brain, start the injection pump at 0.2 &#181;L/min in order to check for catheter clogging during the CED. If no clogging occurred, you should immediately see a droplet of injection mix coming from the catheter tip.</li>
		<li>Prior to reusing or storing the catheter, visually examine the catheter step for any signs of damage or wear under a microscope and clean it as in step 1.3.10.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Waking up procedure
	<ol>
		<li>Gently remove the mouse from the stereotactic frame.</li>
		<li>Wash the surgery site with sterile saline solution.</li>
		<li>Using forceps, fill the burr hole with bone wax.</li>
		<li>Close the skin with thin-tipped forceps and apply surgical glue with a 10 &#181;L pipette over the cut. Wait 15&#8211;30 s for the glue to polymerize.</li>
		<li>Apply analgesia solution by subcutaneous injection. Note the time of injection.</li>
		<li>Apply the first antidote solution. Note the time of injection.</li>
		<li>Transfer the mouse to a separate cage with a heating pad and monitor the animal for startle reflexes.</li>
		<li>If mouse has not gained full consciousness 15 min after administration of the first antidote solution, apply the second antidote solution by subcutaneous injection.</li>
		<li>Monitor animals during recovery phase.</li>
		<li>Check 1&#8211;2 h later as well as the next day for post-operative complications. If necessary, re-apply the analgesia.</li>
		<li>For infection prophylaxis, add sulfadoxin (final concentration 0.08% w/v) and trimethoprim (final concentration 0.016% w/v) to drinking water to which the animals have access ad libitum for 1 week after the surgery.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
</ol>

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<li>Vom Berg, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Inhibition+of+IL-12%2FIL-23+signaling+reduces+Alzheimer%27s+disease-like+pathology+and+cognitive+decline%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Nature+Medicine%22%5BJournal%5D)">Inhibition of IL-12/IL-23 signaling reduces Alzheimer's disease-like pathology and cognitive decline.</a> Nature Medicine. 18 (12), 1812-1819 (2012).</li>
<li>Vom Berg, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Intratumoral+IL-12+combined+with+CTLA-4+blockade+elicits+T+cell-mediated+glioma+rejection%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Journal+of+Experimental+Medicine%22%5BJournal%5D)">Intratumoral IL-12 combined with CTLA-4 blockade elicits T cell-mediated glioma rejection.</a> Journal of Experimental Medicine. 210 (13), 2803-2811 (2013).</li>
<li>Kurdi, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Continuous+administration+of+the+mTORC1+inhibitor+everolimus+induces+tolerance+and+decreases+autophagy+in+mice%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22British+Journal+of+Pharmacology%22%5BJournal%5D)">Continuous administration of the mTORC1 inhibitor everolimus induces tolerance and decreases autophagy in mice.</a> British Journal of Pharmacology. 173 (23), 3359-3371 (2016).</li>
</ol>

Johannes vom Berg is mentioned as an inventor on patent application (PCT/EP2012/070088) of the University of Zurich. Michal Beffinger, Linda Schellhammer and Johannes vom Berg are mentioned as inventors on a patent application (EP19166231) of the University of Zurich. The authors have no additional financial interests.

Convection-enhanced delivery, or pressure-mediated drug infusion into the brain, was first proposed in the early 19903. This approach promises perfusion of large brain volumes behind the blood brain barrier in a controlled manner2. However, so far, only a few clinical trials have been performed using this approach, partially because CED in a clinical setup has shown to be technically demanding24,25. Recent developments in the catheter design and infusion programs seem to have overcome these technical difficulties8,19. Progress made in clinical implementation of therapeutic antibodies, including the advent of immunomodulatory checkpoint blocking agents, awaits application in the treatment of CNS disorders10. This development can be greatly augmented by employing CED in the experimental setup, such as using small rodent models.
Various CNS disease models are available in mice. These include experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) for multiple sclerosis (MS) and genetically engineered models for Alzheimer&#39;s disease (AD), Parkinson&#8217;s disease (PD), or for brain cancer. Many brain tumor models also rely on orthotopic tumor inoculation of murine glioma cell lines or implantation of patient-derived xenografts. This protocol enables delivery of antibody solutions directly into specific anatomic locations, thus resembling therapeutic procedures. It can be implemented in various experimental layouts where delivery of antibody into a precise brain region plays a pivotal role.
The critical factor in performing CED in mice is the availability of catheters. This protocol contains a precise description how to assemble a step catheter and test it in a series of in vitro experiments. One should bear in mind that the fused silica of which the step tubing is made is a brittle material and the quality of CED with a given catheter might decline over time. It is recommended to control the parameters of the step catheters in between the in vivo experiments by repeating the in vitro tests described in the protocol section 1.3.
The protocol can be adjusted for different injection volumes, types of infusate and brain regions. The injection volume can be manipulated by proportionally changing the duration of the injection steps. Here we describe infusion of 5 &#181;L, but CED with 10 &#181;L of antibody solution has been reported in the literature using a similar approach in murine brain tumor models, achieving excellent tissue distribution and perfusion volumes vastly exceeding bolus injection7. Furthermore, up to 28 &#181;L infusate volumes have been reported using CED for application of liquids into the rat brain22,26. Non-proteinaceous substances can also be injected by CED, keeping in mind that the infusate should not be of high viscosity to avoid clogging of the narrow catheter tip. Using liposomes, it has been demonstrated that the charge of the infused molecules can vastly influence the tissue penetration, with neutral or negatively charged particles being able to be distributed over the largest volumes22. As depicted in Figure 5, FITC-dextran and antibody disperse differently: although both antibody and FITC-dextran distribute similarly along the corpus callosum, the antibody penetration of brain parenchyma is more diffuse than for FITC-dextran, which shows a smaller radius and a more spotty distribution pattern. This underlines the differences in CED profile between infusates with varying physicochemical properties.
Furthermore, the CED experiment described here and shown in Figure 5 was performed injecting an anti-mouse TNF&#945; antibody into healthy mice, so assuming minimal target amount in the striatum. Presence of cognate antigen will change the tissue distribution pattern. It can be further affected by inhomogeneous tissue at an anatomical site, as depicted in Figure 5 by distribution of the infusate along the corpus callosum.
Finally, CED is affected by the flow of interstitial fluid, which in the case of striatum injection, can flush the infusate towards the lateral ventricles27. Indeed, even when the tissue is fixed immediately after finishing CED, we can observe a marked adhesion of the injected antibody to the ventricle wall (Figure 5). This can be further affected by pathological conditions of the CNS, e.g. in context of brain tumors. Focal necrosis, often observed in high grade brain tumors28, can affect the flow of interstitial fluid and thus alter the distribution pattern of the infusate29. Other pathological conditions that can lead to changed tissue distribution of infusate as compared to healthy parenchyma include stroke or traumatic brain injury30. To sum up, every series of CED experiments has to be carefully validated to ensure successful perfusion of the target brain region.
Currently, researchers frequently use implantable osmotic pumps to deliver substances into the CSF or brain (tumor) parenchyma31,32,33. In certain cases CED as described here can be used as an alternative. It can be performed multiple times with frequencies depending on the brain region, type of infusate, volume and anesthesia protocol used. Intermittent drug delivery can be particularly relevant when an extended exposure to the infusate leads to tolerance or systemic side effects. It is conceivable that in cases where high retention and half-life infusates are being delivered, this approach would represent a refinement according to the 3R principle since no pump implantation would be necessary. In conclusion, this protocol describes an efficient way of infusing large volumes of antibody solution into the murine striatum and can be adjusted for other brain regions and types of infusate.

The blood brain barrier (BBB) forms a semipermeable border separating the central nervous system (CNS) from the blood circulation. Reaching the CNS with therapeutics is however necessary in context of various diseases, like brain tumors, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease (AD) or Parkinson&#8217;s disease (PD) among others1. This becomes important in the development of new therapies, especially if the tested drug exhibits poor BBB permeability or its systemic exposure can lead to dangerous toxicity1,2. Some of the clinically used antibodies display both of these features. A solution to this problem would be to deliver the therapeutics directly behind the BBB.
Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a neurosurgical technique enabling effective perfusion of large brain volumes. This is achieved by surgically installing one or more catheters in the target area. During the drug application, a pressure gradient is formed at the opening of the catheter, which becomes the driving force of the infusate dispersion in the tissue3,4. It is thus the duration of infusion and not the diffusion coefficients that determine the perfusion range2,4,5. This provides uniform delivery of the infusate over a much larger brain volume compared to conventional, diffusion based intracerebral injection methods2,6. At the same time, this delivery modality has a lower risk of tissue damage2. Accordingly, CED can enable safe and efficacious administration of conventional chemotherapeutics for treatment of CNS tumors, as well as delivery of immunomodulatory agents or agonistic and antagonistic antibodies in a multitude of other CNS disorders2,7,8,9. CED is currently tested in therapies of Parkinson&#8217;s disease, Alzheimer&#8217;s disease, as well as high-grade glioma2,7,8,10,11.
Catheter design and the injection regimen are among the most important factors influencing the outcome of CED 10,12,13,14,15,16. Furthermore, it requires specific physicochemical properties of the infusate, including moderate size of the particles, an anionic charge, and low tissue affinity 10,17. Each of these parameters has to be potentially adjusted according to the histological features of the brain region to be targeted2,10,17.
Here we describe methodology for performing CED of an antibody solution into the caudate putamen (striatum) of mice. Furthermore, the protocol includes preparation of step catheters in a laboratory setup, testing them in vitro and performing the CED.
There are multiple catheter designs available in the literature, differing by the shape of the cannula, the materials used and the number of catheter openings12,15,18,19,20,21,22. We are using a step catheter made of a fused silica capillary protruding 1 mm from a blunt end metal needle. This catheter design can be easily manufactured in a research laboratory and reproducibly gives good CED results when tested in vitro with agarose blocks with physical parameters resembling brain parenchyma in vivo23.
Moreover, we implement a ramping regimen for delivering 5 &#181;L of infusate in vivo. In such a protocol the injection rate is increased from 0.2 &#181;L/min to a maximum of 0.8 &#181;L/min, thus minimizing chances of infusate reflux along the catheter as well as risk of tissue damage16. Using this protocol, we have successfully administered mice with up to 20 &#181;g of antibody in 5 &#181;L of PBS over the course of 11 min 30 s.
The protocol can be readily adjusted for other infusion volumes or for injecting various other substances, e.g. chemotherapeutics, cytokines, viral particles or liposomes2,10,14,18,22. In case of using infusate with drastically different physicochemical properties compared to a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) solution of antibodies, additional validation steps are recommended. For catheter assembly, validation and CED, we describe all steps using a stereotactic robot with a drill and injection unit mounted onto a regular stereotactic frame. This procedure can also be performed with a manual stereotactic frame connected to programmable microinfusion pump that can drive the described glass microsyringes.

<table><tbody><tr><td>10 &amp;mu;L syringe</td><td>Hamilton</td><td>7635-01</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>27 G blunt end needle</td><td>Hamilton</td><td>7762-01</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Agarose</td><td>Promega</td><td>V3121</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Atipamezol</td><td>Janssen</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Bone wax</td><td>Braun</td><td>1029754</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Buprenorphine</td><td>Indivior Schweiz AG</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Carprofen</td><td>Pfizer AG</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Dental drill bits, steel, size ISO 009</td><td>Hager &amp;amp; Meisinger</td><td>1RF009</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ethanol 100%</td><td>Reuss-Chemie AG</td><td>179-VL03K-/1</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Fentanyl</td><td>Helvepharm AG</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FITC-Dextran, 2000 kDa</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>FD2000S</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Flumazenil</td><td>Labatec Pharma AG</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Formaldehyde</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>F8775-500ML</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>High viscosity cyanoacrylate glue</td><td>Migros</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Iodine solution</td><td>Mundipharma</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Medetomidin</td><td>Orion Pharma AG</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Microforge</td><td>Narishige</td><td>MF-900</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Midazolam</td><td>Roche Pharma AG</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Ophthalmic ointment</td><td>Bausch + Lomb</td><td>Vitamin A Blache</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>PBS</td><td>ThermoFischer Scientific</td><td>10010023</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Polyclonal goat anti-rat IgG (H+L) antibody coupled with Alexa Fluor 647</td><td>Jackson Immuno</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Scalpels</td><td>Braun</td><td>BB518</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Silica tubing internal diameter 0.1 mm, wall thickness of 0.0325 mm</td><td>Postnova</td><td>Z-FSS-100165</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Stereotactic frame for mice</td><td>Stoelting</td><td>51615</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Stereotactic robot</td><td>Neurostar</td><td>Drill and Injection Robot</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Succrose</td><td>Sigma Aldrich</td><td>S0389-500G</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Topical tissue adhesive</td><td>Zoetis</td><td>GLUture</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Trypan blue</td><td>ThermoFischer Scientific</td><td>15250061</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Water</td><td>Bichsel</td><td>1000004</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

delivery of antibodies into the murine brain via convection-enhanced delivery

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a neurosurgical technique enabling effective perfusion of large brain volumes using a catheter system. Such an approach provides a safe delivery method by-passing the blood brain barrier (BBB), thus allowing treatment with therapeutics with poor BBB-permeability or those for which systemic exposure is not desired, e.g., due to toxicity. CED requires optimization of the catheter design, injection protocol, and properties of the infusate. With this protocol we describe how to perform CED of a solution containing up to 20 &#181;g of an antibody into the caudate putamen of mice. It describes preparation of step catheters, testing them in vitro and performing the CED in mice using a ramping injection program. The protocol can be readily adjusted for other infusion volumes and can be used for injecting various tracers or pharmacologically active or inactive substances, including chemotherapeutics, cytokines, viral particles, and liposomes.

This protocol enables preparation of step catheters (Figure 1) for use in the CED procedure in a laboratory environment. In order to control the catheters for leakage, reflux along the needle tract and clogging, we recommend performing injections of a dye, e.g., trypan blue solution, into an agarose block. Figure 3 depicts a cloud of trypan blue forming after injection of 1 &#181;L at 0.5 &#181;L/minute using a CED catheter (Figure 3A). No reflux along the needle tract was visible over the beginning of the catheter step. Furthermore, the dispersed cloud formed a desired spherical shape. This is in contrast with the results obtained using a conventional 27 G blunt end needle (Figure 3B), where significant reflux could be observed.
Moreover, CED requires an optimized injection procedure. Figure 4 shows the results of injecting 2 &#181;L of trypan blue into an agarose block using the ramping procedure described in the protocol (A) compared to an injection at a steady rate of 2 &#181;L/minute (B). High injection speed forced the reflux along the catheter even when a CED catheter was being used.
Finally, as shown in Figure 5, CED enables perfusion of large volumes of the murine brain. Mice were injected with a rat anti-mouse TNF&#945; antibody combined with FITC-dextran in 5 &#181;L of PBS by CED (upper panel) or by a conventional bolus injection (bottom panel). The perfusion profile of CED was more uniform than of conventional injection and less tissue damage could be observed. In both cases there was a typical distribution profile of antibody and dextran particles over the corpus callosum. However, the dispersion profile of the injected antibody was more diffuse than of the high molecular weight dextran, exemplifying differences in distribution between different infusates.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: A schematic drawing showing the CED step catheter tip. Frontal (A) and side (B) views. Scheme is not up to scale.&#160;<a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig1large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 2" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig2.jpg" /> 
Figure 2: A schematic drawing depicting the application area of the adhesive. The upper 10 mm of the fused silica tubing are inserted in the metal needle. Apply the adhesive on the 10 mm of tubing starting from the tip of the metal needle. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 3" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig3.jpg" /> 
Figure 3: Comparison of infusion results using CED catheter or a blunt-end needle. Injection of 1 &#181;L of 0.4% trypan blue into an 0.6% agarose block at 0.5 &#181;L/minute using a CED catheter (A) and a 27G blunt-end needle (B). Pictures taken immediately after the catheter or needle withdrawal. Cross marks the tip of the catheter or needle. Scale bar = 5 mm. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig3large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 4" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig4.jpg" /> 
Figure 4: Comparison of infusion results of ramping CED protocol with steady rate protocol. Injection of 2 &#181;L of 0.4% trypan blue into 0.6% agarose block using a ramping CED protocol (0.4 &#181;L at 0.2 &#181;L/min, then 0.8 &#181;L at 0.5 &#181;L/min and 0.8 &#181;L at 0.8 &#181;L/min (A) or a 2 &#181;L/min steady rate injection protocol (B). In both cases a CED catheter was used. Pictures taken immediately after the catheter withdrawal. Cross marks the tip of the catheter. Scale bar = 5 mm. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig4large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>
<img alt="Figure 5" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig5v2.jpg" /> 
Figure 5: Representative results of murine striatum perfusion by CED or by conventional bolus injection. Mice were injected into the striatum (position 1 mm frontal and 2 mm lateral from bregma, depth of 3.5 mm) with 1 &#181;g of rat anti-mouse TNF&#945; combined with 1 &#181;g of FITC-Dextran with the molecular weight 2,000 kDa in 5 &#181;L of PBS. CED protocol (upper panel) or a conventional bolus injection (27 G needle, injection rate 1 &#181;L/minute) was performed (bottom). Mice were sacrificed immediately after the CED procedure by controlled CO2 asphyxiation and perfused with 4% formaldehyde in PBS. Brains were dissected and additionally fixed with 4% formaldehyde in PBS at 4 &#176;C for 24 h. Subsequently, brains were washed with 15% sucrose for 60 min and transferred to 30% sucrose at 4 &#176;C. After 24 h, brains were frozen on dry ice. Free-floating sections (25 &#181;m) were stained using polyclonal goat anti-rat IgG (H+L) antibody coupled with Alexa Fluor 647 and counterstained with DAPI. Images were processed using the Fiji distribution of ImageJ. 10x magnification, Scale bar = 5 mm. 4 mice per group; a representative picture is shown. <a href="https://www-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/files/ftp_upload/59675/59675fig5v2large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Delivery of Antibodies into the Murine Brain via Convection-enhanced Delivery at JoVE.com

Delivery of Antibodies into the Murine Brain via Convection-enhanced Delivery

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a method enabling effective delivery of therapeutics into the brain by direct perfusion of large tissue volumes. The procedure requires the use of catheters and an optimized injection procedure. This protocol describes a methodology for CED of an antibody into a mouse brain.

Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) is a neurosurgical technique enabling effective perfusion of large brain volumes using a catheter system. Such an ...

delivery-antibodies-into-murine-brain-via-convection-enhanced

Nanyang Technological University

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

8.3K Views.  University of Zurich. Dit protocol kan worden gebruikt om convectie-verbeterde levering uit te voeren bij kleine knaagdieren met behulp van een stapkathetersysteem voor de verstelbare uniforme perfusie van doelhersengebieden. Het voordeel van convectie-verbeterde levering is dat het mogelijk maakt levering van stoffen in het gebied van belang het omzeilen van de bloed-hersenbarrière met weinig weefselschade of reflux. Deze techniek is vooral nuttig voor de levering van therapeutische stoffen zoals antilichamen in...

Video: Delivery of Antibodies into the Murine Brain via Convection-enhanced Delivery

Systemic and Local Drug Delivery for Treating Diseases of the Central Nervous System in Rodent Models

Thorough preclinical testing of central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics includes a consideration of routes of administration and agent biodistribution in assessing therapeutic efficacy. Between the two major classifications of administration, local vs. systemic, systemic delivery approaches are often preferred due to ease of administration. However, systemic delivery may result in suboptimal drug concentration being achieved in the CNS, and lead to erroneous conclusions regarding agent efficacy. Local drug delivery methods are more invasive, but may be necessary to achieve therapeutic CNS drug levels. Here, we demonstrate proper technique for three routes of systemic drug delivery: intravenous injection, intraperitoneal injection, and oral gavage. In addition, we show a method for local delivery to the brain: convection-enhanced delivery (CED). The use of fluorescently-labeled compounds is included for in vivo imaging and verification of proper drug administration. The methods are presented using murine models, but can easily be adapted for use in rats.

Thorough preclinical testing of drugs that act in the central nervous system often involves assessing and comparing drug biodistribution in association with specific routes of administration. Here, three commonly used methods of systemic delivery (intravenous, intraperitoneal, and oral) as well as a method for local delivery (convection-enhanced delivery) are demonstrated in mice.

Thorough preclinical testing of central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics includes a consideration of routes of administration and agent biodistribution ...

Delivery of Therapeutic Agents Through Intracerebroventricular (ICV) and Intravenous (IV) Injection in Mice

Despite the protective role that blood brain barrier plays in shielding the brain, it limits the access to the central nervous system (CNS) which most often results in failure of potential therapeutics designed for neurodegenerative disorders 1,2. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), in which the lower motor neurons are affected, can benefit greatly from introducing the therapeutic agents into the CNS. The purpose of this video is to demonstrate two different injection paradigms to deliver therapeutic materials into neonatal mice soon after birth. One of these methods is injecting directly into cerebral lateral ventricles (Intracerebroventricular) which results in delivery of materials into the CNS through the cerebrospinal fluid 3,4. The second method is a temporal vein injection (intravenous) that can introduce different therapeutics into the circulatory system, leading to systemic delivery including the CNS 5. Widespread transduction of the CNS is achievable if an appropriate viral vector and viral serotype is utilized. Visualization and utilization of the temporal vein for injection is feasible up to postnatal day 6. However, if the delivered material is intended to reach the CNS, these injections should take place while the blood brain barrier is more permeable due to its immature status, preferably prior to postnatal day 2. The fully developed blood brain barrier greatly limits the effectiveness of intravenous delivery. Both delivery systems are simple and effective once the surgical aptitude is achieved. They do not require any extensive surgical devices and can be performed by a single person. However, these techniques are not without challenges. The small size of postnatal day 2 pups and the subsequent small target areas can make the injections difficult to perform and initially challenging to replicate.

Delivery of Therapeutic Agents Through Intracerebroventricular ICV and Intravenous IV Injection in Mice

This article demonstrates two very different methods of injection: 1) into the brain (intracerebroventricular) and 2) systemic (intravenous) to introduce the therapeutic agents into the central nervous system of neonatal mice.

Despite the protective role that blood brain barrier plays in shielding the brain, it limits the access to the central nervous system (CNS) which most ...

Medicine

Predicting In Vivo Payloads Delivery using a Blood-brain Tumor-barrier in a Dish

Highly selective by nature, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is essential for the brain homeostasis in physiological conditions. However, in the context of brain tumors, the molecular selectivity of BBB also shields the neoplastic cells by blocking the delivery of peripherally administered chemotherapies. The development of novel drugs (including nanoparticles) targeting malignant brain tumors ideally requires the use of preclinical animal models to study the drug&#8217;s transcytosis and antitumor efficacy. In order to comply with the 3R principle (refine, reduce, and replace) to reduce the number of laboratory animals in experimental setup and perform the high-throughput screening of a large library of antitumor agents, we developed a reproducible in vitro human and murine mimic of the blood-brain tumor-barrier (BBTB) using three-layered cultures of endothelial cells, astrocytes, and patient-derived glioblastoma spheres. For higher scalability and reproducibility, commercial cell lines or immortalized cells have been used in tailored conditions to allow the formation of a barrier resembling the actual BBB. Here we describe a protocol to obtain a BBTB mimic by culturing endothelial cells in contact with astrocytes at specific cell densities on inserts. This BBTB mimic can be used, for instance, for the quantification and confocal imaging of the nanoparticle passage through the endothelial and astrocytic barriers, in addition to the evaluation of the tumor cell targeting within the same assay. Moreover, we show that the obtained data can be used to predict the behavior of nanoparticles in preclinical animal models. In a broader perspective, this in vitro model could be adapted to other neurodegenerative diseases for the determination of the passage of new therapeutic molecules through the BBB and/or be supplemented with brain organoids to directly evaluate the efficacy of drugs.

Drug targeting to central nervous system tumors is a major challenge. Here we describe a protocol to produce an in vitro mimic of the blood-brain tumor-barrier using murine and/or human cells and discuss their relevance for the predictability of central nervous system tumor targeting in vivo.

Highly selective by nature, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is essential for the brain homeostasis in physiological conditions. However, in the context of ...

Cancer Research

Heterotopic Mucosal Engrafting Procedure for Direct Drug Delivery to the Brain in Mice

Delivery of therapeutics into the brain is impeded by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) which restricts the passage of polar and high molecular weight compounds from the bloodstream and into brain tissue. Some direct delivery success in humans has been achieved via implantation of transcranial catheters; however this method is highly invasive and associated with numerous complications. A less invasive alternative would be to dose the brain through a surgically implanted, semipermeable membrane such as the nasal mucosa that is used to repair skull base defects following endoscopic transnasal tumor removal surgery in humans. Drug transfer though this membrane would effectively bypass the BBB and diffuse directly into the brain and cerebrospinal fluid. Inspired by this approach, a surgical approach in mice was developed that uses a donor septal mucosal membrane engrafted over an extracranial surgical BBB defect. This model has been shown to effectively allow the passage of high molecular weight compounds into the brain. Since numerous drug candidates are incapable of crossing the BBB, this model is valuable for performing preclinical testing of novel therapies for neurological and psychiatric diseases.

A mouse model of human endoscopic skull base reconstruction has been developed that creates a semipermeable interface between the brain and nose using nasal mucosal grafts. This method allows researchers to study delivery to the central nervous system of high molecular weight therapeutics which are otherwise excluded by the blood-brain barrier when administered systemically.

Delivery of therapeutics into the brain is impeded by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) which restricts the passage of polar and high ...

Mouse Microsurgery Infusion Technique for Targeted Substance Delivery into the CNS via the Internal Carotid Artery

Animal models of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and, consequently, blood-brain barrier disruption diseases, require the delivery of exogenous substances into the brain. These exogenous substances may induce injurious impact or constitute therapeutic strategy. The most common delivery methods of exogenous substances into the brain are based on systemic deliveries, such as subcutaneous or intravenous routes. Although commonly used, these approaches have several limitations, including low delivery efficacy into the brain. In contrast, surgical methods that locally deliver substances into the CNS are more specific and prevent the uptake of the exogenous substances by other organs. Several surgical methods for CNS delivery are available; however, they tend to be very traumatic. Here, we describe a mouse infusion microsurgery technique, which effectively delivers substances into the brain via the internal carotid artery, with minimal trauma and no interference with normal CNS functionality.

Mouse Microsurgery Infusion Technique for Targeted Substance Delivery into the CNS via the Internal Carotid Artery

The present protocol describes a mouse microsurgery infusion technique, which effectively delivers substances directly into the brain via the internal carotid artery.

Animal models of central nervous system (CNS) diseases and, consequently, blood-brain barrier disruption diseases, require the delivery of exogenous ...

A Positioning Device for the Placement of Mice During Intranasal siRNA Delivery to the Central Nervous System

Intranasal (IN) drug delivery to the brain has emerged as a promising method to bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the delivery of drugs into the central nervous system (CNS). Recent studies demonstrate the use of a peptide, RVG9R, incorporating the minimal receptor-binding domain of the Rabies virus glycoprotein, in eliciting the delivery of siRNA into neurons in the brain. In this protocol, the peptide-siRNA formulation is delivered intranasally with a pipette in the dominant hand, while the anesthetized mouse is restrained by the scruff with the nondominant hand in a "head down-and-forward position" to avoid drainage into the lung and stomach upon inhalation. This precise gripping of mice can be learned but is not easy and requires practice and skill to result in effective CNS uptake. Furthermore, the process is long-drawn, requiring about 45 min for the administration of a total volume of ~20-30 &#181;L of solution in 1-2 &#181;L droplet volumes per inhalation, with 3-4 min rest periods between each inhalation. The objective of this study is to disclose a mouse positioning device that enables the appropriate placement of mice for efficient IN administration of the peptide-siRNA formulation. Multiple features are incorporated into the design of the device, such as four or eight positioning chairs with adjustable height and tilt to restrain anesthetized mice in the head down-and-forward position, enabling easy visualization of the mice's nares and a built-in heating pad to maintain the mice's body temperatures during the procedure. Importantly, the ability to treat four or eight mice simultaneously with RVG9R-siRNA complexes in this manner enables studies on a much quicker time scale, for the testing of an IN therapeutic siRNA approach. In conclusion, this device allows for appropriate and controlled mouse head positioning for IN application of RVG9R-siRNA and other therapeutic molecules, such as nanoparticles or antibodies, for CNS delivery.

Here, we present a protocol using a mouse positioning device that enables the appropriate placement of mice for the intranasal administration of a brain-targeting peptide-siRNA formulation enabling effective gene silencing in the central nervous system.

Intranasal (IN) drug delivery to the brain has emerged as a promising method to bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the delivery of drugs into the ...

Immunology and Infection

Delivery of Antibodies into the Brain Using Focused Scanning Ultrasound

Only a small fraction of therapeutic antibodies targeting brain diseases are taken up by the brain. Focused ultrasound offers a possibility to increase uptake of antibodies and engagement through transient opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In our laboratory, we are developing therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases in which an antibody in various formats is delivered across the BBB using microbubbles, concomitant with focused ultrasound application through the skull targeting multiple spots, an approach we refer to as scanning ultrasound (SUS). The mechanical effects of microbubbles and ultrasound on blood vessels increases paracellular transport across the BBB by transiently separating tight junctions and enhances vesicle- mediated transcytosis, allowing antibodies and therapeutic agents to effectively cross. Moreover, ultrasound also facilitates the uptake of antibodies from the interstitial brain into brain cells such as neurons where the antibody distributes throughout the cell body and even into neuritic processes. In our studies, fluorescently labeled antibodies are prepared, mixed with in-house prepared lipid-based microbubbles and injected into mice immediately before SUS is applied to the brain. The increased antibody concentration in the brain is then quantified. To account for alterations in normal brain homeostasis, microglial phagocytosis can be used as a cellular marker. The generated data suggest that ultrasound delivery of antibodies is an attractive approach to treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Presented here is a protocol to transiently open the blood-brain barrier (BBB) either focally or throughout a mouse brain to deliver fluorescently-labeled antibodies and activate microglia. Also presented is a method to detect the delivery of antibodies and microglia activation by histology.

Only a small fraction of therapeutic antibodies targeting brain diseases are taken up by the brain. Focused ultrasound offers a possibility to increase ...

Convection-Enhanced Delivery of Antibodies into a Mouse Brain

Source: Beffinger, M., et al. <a href="https://app-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/v/59675">Delivery of Antibodies into the Murine Brain via Convection-enhanced Delivery.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2019).
This video demonstrates a convection-enhanced delivery (CED) technique for antibody delivery into the mouse brain. The skull of an anesthetized mouse is exposed, and a burr hole is created at the target area for antibody delivery. A step catheter containing antibodies is inserted at the target site, and via an infusion pump, a pressure gradient is created to deliver antibodies at a controlled rate.

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.
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JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments

Immunology

Antibody-Based Technologies

Antibody-Based Imaging and Detection Methods

An Intracerebroventricular Injection to Analyze Murine Cytomegalovirus Distribution in a Neonatal Mouse Brain

Source: Kawasaki, H., et al. <a href="https://app-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/v/54164">Intracerebroventricular and Intravascular Injection of Viral Particles and Fluorescent Microbeads into the Neonatal Brain.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (2016).
This video demonstrates the intracerebroventricular injection process for studying murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) distribution in the neonatal mouse brain. MCMV, engineered to express an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) for visibility, is injected into the lateral ventricle of a mouse pup&#39;s brain. The injected virus circulates through the cerebrospinal fluid, infecting cells in the periventricular region, including the marginal zone, choroid plexus, and subventricular zone.

1. ICV Injection of MCMV and Fluorescent Microbeads into Neonatal Mice

	Maintain normal pregnant ICR mice in a temperature-controlled facility under a 12 ...

Neuropathology

Infectious Diseases

An Ultrasound-Assisted Delivery of Antibodies in a Mouse Model

Source: Leinenga, G. et al., <a href="https://app-jove-com.remotexs.ntu.edu.sg/v/61372">Delivery of Antibodies into the Brain Using Focused Scanning Ultrasound.</a>&#160;J. Vis. Exp. (2020)
This video demonstrates a procedure of ultrasound-assisted antibody delivery in a mouse model. Retro-orbitally injected microbubbles oscillate under ultrasound, creating a transient disruption in the blood-brain barrier, permitting labeled antibodies to enter the brain.

Delivery of Antibodies into the Murine Brain via Convection-enhanced Delivery

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