Beyond the blood-brain barrier
224 small molecules carry drugs to the brain to fight cancer and neurological diseases
Researchers from Mayo Clinic have shown it is possible to use small molecules to carry drugs to the brain, helping fight cancer and other neurological diseases.
In the Mayo Clinic study, mice were injected with synthetic peptides, which bound to proteins that interact with receptors in the blood-brain barrier, manipulating them to temporarily open pores, allowing drug molecules to be ferried across.
“Not only have we shown that we can transport eight different molecules, we think this method will be less disruptive or invasive because it mimics a normal physiological process,” says Dr Gobinda Sarkar, a neuroscientist at the Mayo Clinic.
Earlier experiments involving mice models of Alzheimer’s disease demonstrated success in transporting antibodies across the blood-brain barrier to fight amyloid plaques in the brain, protein build-ups in the brain that can cause neurodegenerative disorders.
Scientists say more research is needed to determine the effectiveness of the method and potential adverse effects.
Further links:
Medicalnewstoday.com
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