Crossing Brain Barriers: Enhancing drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier to fight brain disorders
Brain disorders are among the top three life-threatening diseases worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. However, treatment options remain limited due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which restricts the entry of drugs into the central nervous system (CNS). To address this challenge, a new public-private partnership has been established, bringing together leading researchers and industry partners. This project aims to develop innovative drug delivery strategies using lipid-based carriers, specifically extracellular vesicles (EVs) and CNS-targeted liposomes, to improve the treatment of brain disorders.
Brain disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and Alzheimer’s disease are a growing global health concern, affecting millions of people and placing a significant burden on healthcare systems. Current drug delivery methods are often ineffective due to the protective nature of the BBB, leading to a high demand for more efficient therapeutic approaches. With an aging population and increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, innovation in drug delivery is crucial to improving patient outcomes and reducing societal costs.
To tackle this issue, the project focuses on engineering EVs and liposomal formulations capable of crossing the BBB efficiently. EVs are natural lipid vesicles involved in cellular communication, making them promising candidates for drug delivery. The team will characterize EVs derived from human stem cell-based brain models to determine their ability to transport drugs across the BBB. Additionally, new CNS-targeted liposomes, developed in collaboration with Mireca and Eyesiu, will be designed using a specialized formulation process to enhance their ability to reach the brain.
The project aims to validate these innovative drug delivery methods using in vitro and in vivo models for MS, FTD, and Alzheimer’s disease. The effectiveness of EVs and CNS-targeted liposomes will be benchmarked against existing drug delivery systems. By advancing these technologies, the project seeks to accelerate clinical applications, paving the way for more effective treatments for brain disorders.
