Scientists utilize nanoparticles to cure Alzheimer’s in mice
In this DML Report…
Researchers from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia in Barcelona, collaborating with experts from China and University College London, published a study in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy demonstrating the reversal of Alzheimer's symptoms in mice through nanoparticle-based repair of the blood-brain barrier. Led by Professor Giuseppe Battaglia, the team used genetically modified mice engineered to overproduce amyloid-beta protein, resulting in plaque buildup and cognitive decline akin to human Alzheimer's. The treatment involved injecting three doses of supramolecular nanoparticles—tiny hollow spheres under 200 nanometers in diameter, made from biocompatible polymers with tuned surface chemistry to target the LRP1 protein on blood-brain barrier cells. These nanoparticles attach to damaged barrier cells, restoring their function to facilitate nutrient transport and waste clearance, including the removal of amyloid-beta.
One hour after injection, brain amyloid-beta levels dropped by 50 to 60 percent in treated mice, with light sheet fluorescence microscopy revealing reduced red-stained plaques and green-highlighted restored barrier vessels. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed nanoparticle presence in the brain 12 hours post-treatment. In a key experiment, a 12-month-old mouse—equivalent to a 60-year-old human—received treatment and, after six months at 18 months old (equivalent to 90 years), exhibited fully recovered healthy behavior, including normalized cognitive function. Battaglia noted that the approach reactivates the barrier's natural clearance mechanisms, addressing how Alzheimer's damage impairs nutrient delivery and waste removal.
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The findings suggest potential for human application, as the blood-brain barrier operates similarly across species, with Battaglia estimating early-stage trials could begin within a few years following safety and toxicology studies. He emphasized, "Our study shows that when we repair and reactivate the blood-brain barrier, the brain’s ability to clear harmful proteins improves, and so does its function," and described the nanoparticles as "microscopic repair agents" that restart essential brain processes. However, the results are limited to mice, requiring further validation in humans to confirm efficacy and long-term safety before clinical use.