Nanocapsules will help in the treatment of brain cancer and rare diseases of the central nervous system
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The brain protects a special cell layer that helps prevent infection in this important body. But in addition to bacteria and infections, 98% of medicines needed to treat CNS diseases can not overcome natural protection. In Barcelona, experts from the University of Biomedical Research have developed a capsule with medications that can easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier and deliver substances directly to the brain.
The group of specialists - chemists at this stage conducts the study of the capsule in special medical conditions. Simultaneously with the clinical trial, experts are working on the preparation of a drug from Friedreich ataxia, brain cancer in children and glioblastoma.
The blood-brain barrier passes only substances necessary for brain nutrition, such as iron, insulin, oxygen, in this way certain receptors help that recognize substances and pass or block them. A group of scientists used to overcome the blood-brain barrier receptors that recognize and pass iron into the brain, while the processes of natural protection and inflow of nutrients to the body are not violated. Penetrating through the receptors, a special capsule helps to deliver the necessary drugs directly to the brain, which increases the effectiveness of treatment.
According to the author of the research project, the goal of the scientific group was to create a capsule that would become a vehicle for the drug, while the size of the capsule should be approximately from the peptide (one nanometer) and retain its properties in the blood.
The therapeutic effect of the capsule is precisely these two qualities that make it unique in its kind. The capsule contains 12 amino acids, and it is able to maintain its properties in the blood for up to 24 hours.
Based on the results of preliminary experiments conducted on rodents, it was found that the body's immune system does not react to such capsules, in addition, such transportation devices have an extremely low toxic effect.
As the experts noted, work is currently underway on three projects aimed at developing the treatment of rare diseases with nanocapsules. Together with specialists from the Vall Hebron Cancer University, work is underway in which scientists are trying to link medications with peptides to develop treatment for glioblastoma, the most aggressive form of brain cancer that occurs in adults.
In addition, work is under way to develop a method for treating Friedreich's ataxia, a rare hereditary form of neurodegenerative disease. Specialists have set themselves the goal of introducing into the capsule a viral vector with a gene that is not present in cells in patients with this disease.
Also, chemists from Barcelona have recently been asked to use a capsule for the therapy of brain cancer in children, in which drugs do not cross the blood-brain barrier.
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