Articles tagged with Blood Brain Barrier
A new guide provides a roadmap for developing cell-penetrating peptide clusters to deliver lifesaving treatments across biological barriers. The clusters could improve patient outcomes dramatically by allowing minimum doses of treatments, reducing toxicity.
Scientists have identified a key driver of brain inflammation in neurological diseases, proposing a new treatment approach by neutralizing fibrin. This protein, involved in blood coagulation, triggers neurologic diseases by hijacking the immune system, resulting in damaged neurons.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have found an antidepressant, vortioxetine, effective against glioblastomas, a particularly aggressive brain tumor with no cure. The drug's ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and trigger a signalling cascade makes it promising for treating this deadly tumour.
Researchers investigated the connection between androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer and Alzheimer's disease. They found that ADT can exacerbate cognitive decline by increasing brain immune cell infiltration, but a combination with Natalizumab improved integrity of the blood-brain barrier and reduced inflammation.
Researchers have developed a new technique called burst sine wave electroporation (B-SWE) that can disrupt the blood-brain barrier around brain tumors without causing significant damage to healthy tissue. This method shows promise for treating aggressive brain cancers like glioblastoma, which currently have limited treatment options.
Alzheimer's patients' samples exhibit altered communication between pericytes and astrocytes, mediated by VEGFA and SMAD3. Donors with higher blood SMAD3 levels had less vascular damage and better outcomes.
A small study compares healthy brains of young and old, finding normal ageing associated with increased blood-brain barrier permeability in Alzheimer's Disease vulnerable areas. This increased permeability may contribute to disease progression.
Researchers have created the world's first human mini-brain that incorporates a fully functional blood-brain barrier, mimicking human neurovascular development. This breakthrough model promises to accelerate understanding and treatment of brain disorders like stroke, cerebral vascular disorders, and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have identified molecular doorways for delivering drugs into the brain using essential nutrient choline, which is transported by protein FLVCR2. Choline is vital for brain development and cell regeneration, making it a promising target for treating neurological disorders.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have identified a blood coagulation protein, fibrin, as the culprit behind toxic inflammation and neuron loss after a major head injury. This finding can inform new treatment strategies for traumatic brain injuries, which often lead to dementia, depression, and difficulty concentrating.
Researchers have mapped the protein composition of brain endothelial cells, revealing dysregulation of key molecules involved in cellular processes. This study provides a framework for understanding endothelial signaling pathways during aging and serves as a data basis for future analyses of brain endothelial function.
A new study found that a viral infection can cause cognitive impairments by damaging the blood-brain barrier, leading to memory loss and learning difficulties. Researchers developed a gene therapy that stimulated the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway to prevent this damage and improve cognitive function in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.
The chikungunya virus infects CD14+ CD16+ monocytes and affects proteins holding epithelial cells of the blood-brain barrier together. The study found severe alterations in coagulation cascade, hemodynamic damage in organs, and high levels of inflammatory cytokines.
A research team developed a model of the blood-brain barrier using modularized tissue derived from human cells. The 'Tissue-in-a-CUBE' system accurately mimics the real blood-brain barrier in terms of structure and function, allowing for the testing of drugs without animal testing.
A team of scientists from the Beckman Institute has received a $3 million grant to develop diagnostic tools and imaging agents for the early detection of Alzheimer's disease. They will use a combination of PET and MRI scans to target smaller beta-amyloid peptides and other signs of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.
Researchers discovered a new role for Mfsd7c in exporting excessive choline from the brain. The study suggests that targeting this protein could lead to therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders.
A team of researchers has devised a method to deliver mRNA into the brain using lipid nanoparticles, offering new hope for treating conditions like Alzheimer's disease and seizures. The approach uses a special keycard-like system to bypass the blood-brain barrier, allowing therapeutic agents to enter the brain and target specific cells.
Rice bioengineer Jerzy Szablowski and colleagues have engineered a synthetic serum marker that enables non-invasive neural monitoring by tracking gene expression dynamics in the brain. This breakthrough allows researchers to investigate brain development, cognitive function and neurological diseases more effectively.
Researchers develop nanoparticles that selectively bind to activated astrocytes and microglia cells in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's patients, demonstrating increased nanoparticle transport across the blood brain barrier with age. The study provides valuable insights into advancing nanoparticle-based drug delivery for treating neurode...
Researchers developed a novel platform to transport therapeutic antibodies across the blood-brain barrier using a biocompatible polymer. The method showed promising results in both in vitro and mouse-model experiments, suggesting enhanced brain delivery of cancer-fighting antibodies without inducing adverse effects.
Scientists have developed a novel organ-on-a-chip device with customizable screen-printed electrodes for measuring endothelial barrier integrity. The device overcomes traditional electrode fabrication challenges, providing a reliable and accurate method for studying the crucial roles of endothelial barriers in healthy and disease states.
Researchers developed a nanotechnology method to deliver medication through the blood-brain barrier, overcoming its selectivity and expanding therapeutic options for glioblastoma treatment. The technique demonstrated improved tumor shrinkage and survival rates in mice, paving the way for further preclinical studies.
Researchers have developed a noninvasive brain biopsy technique using ultrasound and microbubbles to access brain tissue without surgery. The technique increases circulating tumor DNA by 1.6- to 5.6-fold, providing valuable genetic information for treatment decisions.
A new NIH grant will investigate the impact of combined alcohol and e-cigarette use on the blood brain barrier, a cell layer regulating substance passage into the central nervous system. The study aims to identify mechanisms behind damage and potential biomarkers for clinical use.
Researchers discovered that the blood-brain barrier in carpenter ants produces a hormone-degrading enzyme, Juvenile hormone esterase (Jhe), which controls JH3 hormone levels in the brain, affecting behavior. Manipulating Jhe levels can reprogram ant castes and even change food-seeking behavior in fruit flies.
Researchers at UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center aim to overcome brain tumor's limited treatment options with ERAS-801, a brain-penetrant inhibitor showing promise in preclinical models. The team is testing the treatment in early clinical trials for patients diagnosed with glioblastoma.
University of Louisville researchers have received a five-year, $11.7 million National Institutes of Health grant to investigate the connection between microorganisms and disease. The study will focus on various chronic conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, diabetes, periodontitis, and colorectal cancer.
Using a sensitive mass spectrometry-based secretome approach, researchers have identified hundreds of molecules that are cleaved from the cell surface of astrocytes, providing a unique database of MMP-2/-9 substrates specific to blood-brain barrier formation and maintenance. This discovery sheds light on the molecular processes essenti...
A new study published in Developmental Cell reveals that a signal produced by neurons is essential for the proper formation of the blood-brain barrier during embryonic development and helps maintain its integrity throughout adulthood. The findings could lead to more effective ways of delivering cancer or psychiatric medicines into the ...
Researchers developed a model of the blood-brain barrier to prevent newborn meningitis treatment, with a 50% mortality rate in developing countries. The organ-on-a-chip platform enables rapid and accurate testing of drugs for safety and efficacy, promising to improve treatment outcomes.
Researchers developed a new therapeutic molecule that activates WNT signaling to restore the blood-brain barrier's normal function. The treatment showed promise in treating conditions such as multiple sclerosis and ischemic stroke by reducing the severity of strokes and improving survival rates.
Researchers at Gladstone Institutes discovered that blood leaking into the brain triggers toxic genes in microglia, turning them into harmful cells that destroy neurons. Fibrin, a blood protein, is responsible for this process, which can lead to cognitive dysfunction and motor impairment.
Researchers at UTHealth Houston are investigating the role of fibrin and fibrinogen in traumatic brain injury and hemorrhagic shock. The four-year grant will fund Phase II of a stem cell clinical trial evaluating whether mesenchymal stem cells reduce chronic neuroinflammatory response to traumatic brain injury.
A multi-institutional team of experts is studying how to use focused ultrasound to create a temporary gateway through the blood-brain barrier to deliver cancer medicine. Researchers aim to develop a personalized medicine approach in which they can test drugs on patient tumors and predict treatment effectiveness.
A recent study by Carolyn Elya reveals the molecular mechanisms behind summiting behavior in infected fruit flies. The researchers discovered that hormonal axes mediate this behavior, and that fungal cells invade the fly's brains during summiting.
Researchers have developed a zebrafish model to understand lipid transport across the blood-brain barrier, crucial for healthy nervous system development. The study provides key insights into how omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, are transported into the brain and may enable targeted drug delivery.
Scientists successfully opened the blood-brain barrier using a novel ultrasound device, delivering chemotherapy to treat glioblastoma patients. The treatment increased drug concentrations by 4-6 times and was safe and well-tolerated.
A nationally representative sample of community-dwelling adults found that stroke prevalence remained stable overall, but increased among men. The study's estimates underestimate the total burden due to institutional settings not included in National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys.
Researchers used microfluidic devices to track what happens to cancer cells as they migrate and take root in the brain. They found that Dkk-1 triggers cancer cell migration, and reducing its levels near tumor cells may disrupt crosstalk between brain niche cells and cancer cells.
Scientists from Tokyo Medical and Dental University find that antibody fragments encapsulated in nanomicelles can reduce toxic Aβ species in the brain of an Alzheimer's disease model mouse. This breakthrough delivers treatment to where it is needed most, potentially slowing AD progression.
A research group at Uppsala University has developed an artificial blood-brain barrier model that can validate the effectiveness of antibodies in reaching the brain. The model allows for the testing of antibodies without the need for animal experimentation, providing a more efficient and cost-effective alternative.
Researchers developed an open-microfluidic 3D blood-brain barrier model to study the complex structure and function of the barrier. The model allows for simultaneous measurement of permeability and morphological changes, providing new insights into how the barrier responds to injuries and diseases.
Bonn researchers create micropipette-based local perfusion of capillaries to analyze BBB transport at the cellular level, providing insights into epilepsy and drug development. The approach reveals the barrier's integrity remains largely intact, offering a tool for evaluating active ingredients' brain penetration.
Researchers at UW-Madison developed silica nanocapsules that can carry CRISPR tools across the blood-brain barrier, enabling brain-wide gene editing for disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The technology has potential for non-invasive delivery of gene therapies.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a new fluorescent dye that can cross the blood-brain barrier, allowing for noninvasive brain imaging and differentiation between healthy tissue and tumor cells. The dye's long-lasting fluorescence enables stable imaging over extended periods.
Researchers found that mice exposed to WTCPM dust exhibit impaired spatial recognition and memory, as well as changes in genes related to immune-inflammatory responses. The study suggests a peripheral-brain immune inflammatory 'cross-talking' mechanism that may increase cognitive decline risk.
A new study found that obeticholic acid can reverse cognitive impairment in patients with cholestatic liver disease, improving short-term memory and restoring brain function. The study used a rodent model of bile duct ligation-induced cholestasis and found that the drug significantly improved cognitive deficits.
Researchers have engineered a family of adeno-associated viral vectors that can deliver cargo to the primate brain, offering a safer and more efficient way to treat genetic diseases. The PAL family of AAVs has been shown to be three times better at delivering their cargo into the brain than current leading AAV delivery vehicle AAV9.
Researchers demonstrate a new way to deliver medication to malignant brain tumors in mice, using a modified peptide that can penetrate the blood-brain barrier. The study shows promising results, with a 50% increase in survival rate for treated mice, and offers hope for future treatment breakthroughs.
A new study successfully tested an implantable pump that delivers chemotherapy directly to the brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier. The treatment effectively kills brain tumor cells and offers a safe way to treat patients with brain cancer.
Scientists have uncovered the mechanics of the blood-tumour barrier in medulloblastoma, a malignant paediatric brain tumour. By silencing a specific ion channel, researchers found that chemotherapy medication etoposide was better able to cross the barrier and treat the tumour cells.
Researchers at Linköping University identified the brain cells necessary for a fever reaction in mice, finding that prostaglandin production in these cells is both necessary and sufficient for triggering a fever response. This breakthrough sheds light on the body's defense mechanism against infection and inflammation.
WayPath Pharma has been awarded a $225,000 Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) award to develop new metabolic drugs targeting tumor stem cells and crossing the blood-brain barrier. The funding aims to advance treatment options for glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain cancer with limited treatment options.
A Brazilian study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 targets astrocytes in the brain, reducing neuron viability and causing damage. Infection was confirmed using MRI scans of mild COVID-19 patients and experiments on human nerve cells.
Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University found that brain stimulation combined with a nose spray containing nanoparticles can improve recovery after ischemic stroke. The treatment increased cognitive and motor functions, and weighed more quickly than those treated with TMS alone.
Researchers at Duke University have identified a previously unknown barrier that separates the bloodstream from smelling cells in the upper airway of mice, which may hinder the effectiveness of vaccines. The BOB barrier also allows antibody-secreting plasma cells to produce neutralizing antibodies locally.
Tel Aviv University researchers discovered that skin cancer cells interact with astrocytes in the brain, promoting metastasis. By inhibiting this interaction using existing treatments, they delayed the spread of melanoma to the brain by 60-80%. This breakthrough has implications for treating advanced-stage melanoma.
A new approach to making nanocarriers for drug delivery features a soft, fat-like liposome interior surrounded by a hard shell of gold nanoparticles. The hybrid nanocarriers are designed to transport medicine across the body's blood brain barrier, a major hurdle protecting the brain from pathogens.
A novel stem cell-gene therapy has been shown to be safe in humans, with no serious side effects reported in the first trial. The treatment targets motor neurons that die in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurological disorder.
A new study from USC researchers uncovers the sequence of early molecular changes caused by APOE4, a discovery that may help identify potential treatment targets in the brain's blood vessels. The research reveals problems with the blood-brain barrier and synapses, leading to behavioral deficits and cognitive dysfunction.