New technique to bring life-saving drugs to the brain
In a study published in the April 16 issue of Nature Communications, researchers from the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine describe a revolutionary technique they have developed to deliver the anti-HIV drug AZTTP into the brain. Professors Madhavan Nair and Sakhrat Khizroev used magneto-electric nanoparticles to cross the blood-brain barrier and send significantly increased levels of AZTTP— up to 97 percent more —to HIV-infected cells. For years, the blood-brain barrier has stumped scientists and doctors. A natural filter, the blood-brain barrier keeps most medicines from reaching the brain. This delivery method could help other patients who suffer from diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, meningitis and chronic pain.
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