Nanotechnology-based Therapeutic Platform for Neuroprotection

Dr. Uttara Basu, Chimie Paris Tech, PSL University, Paris, France

The blood brain barrier represents the main determinant of the effective delivery of drugs to the central nervous system (CNS).¹ The success of nanoparticle-mediated delivery of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory-based neuroprotectants to the brain to improve neuronal functions in neurodegenerative diseases has been limited. These failures can be attributed to (i) the unavailability of a delivery vehicle, which can efficiently transport through the brain capillary endothelium, (ii) the inefficient uptake of therapeutic nanoparticles in the neuronal cell population and (iii) the limited ability of a single nanoparticle to cross the two most-impermeable biological barriers, the blood–brain barrier and mitochondrial double membrane. This allows a nanoparticle to travel through the brain endothelial barrier to the mitochondria of target cells where oxidative damage is localized. We have recently demonstrated the optimization of a biodegradable nanoparticle for efficient brain accumulation and protection of astrocytes from oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunctions to enhance the neuroprotection ability of astrocytes toward neurons using SOD1^G93A rats.² This biodegradable nano-therapeutic platform has immense potential to generate ameliorative effects in neurodegenerative diseases by modulating the astrocytes in the brain and enhancing their neuroprotective actions.

References:

1. Daneman, R Ann. Neurol. 2012, 72, 648-672
2. Surnar, B.;^# Basu, U.;^# Banik, B.; Ahmad, A.; Marples, B.; Dhar, S.; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2018, 115, E12333-E12342

Further information by: 

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kortz - Professor of Chemistry - Focus Area: Health - Life Sciences & Chemistry - Email: u.kortz@jacobs-university.de