Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have modified lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to cross the blood-brain barrier and target specific brain cells, offering a potential breakthrough for treating neurological diseases.
University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied ScienceDec 18 2024 Penn Engineers have modified lipid nanoparticles -; the revolutionary technology behind the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines -; to not only cross the blood-brain barrier but also to target specific types of cells, including neurons. This breakthrough marks a significant step toward potential next-generation treatments for neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Our first paper was a proof-of-concept lipid nanoparticle design. It was like showing we could send a package from Pennsylvania to California, but we had no idea where in California it would end up. Now, with peptides, we can address the package to specific destinations with shared features, like every house with a red mailbox.
Peptides vs. antibodies Until now, most research on targeting specific organs with LNPs has focused on combining them with antibodies, large proteins that function like biological nametags. "When you put antibodies onto LNPs, they could become unstable and larger in size, which makes it really hard to squeeze through the barrier," says Han.
Testing the concept To confirm the peptides were functioning as intended, the researchers first needed to verify they adhered to the LNPs. "Our LNPs are a complex mixture of nucleic acids, lipids and peptides," says Han. "We had to optimize quantification methods to pick out the peptides against all those other signals."
NANOTECHNOLOGY NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES ALZHEIMER's DISEASE PARKINSON's DISEASE BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER
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