After years of research on novel nano drugs for Alzheimer's disease, a research team led by Professor Chang, Jin from Tianjin University has constructed a novel targeted and high-efficiency nanosystem for combinational therapy of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Such multifunctional synergetic nanosystem can be a new candidate to achieve highly efficient combination therapy for AD.
AD is commonly known as dementia — a continuous decline in thinking, behavioral and social skills that disrupts a person's ability to function independently. Such disease remains the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease and has no available effective treatment yet.
Schematic illustration of the novel nanosystem for combinational therapy for Alzheimer’s disease
Metalions - triggered Abaggregation and acetylcholine imbalance are reported to be possible factors in AD pathogenesis. Professor Chang’s team successfully designed a nanoparticle to carry both drugs for inhibiting and reducing the metal ions‐triggered Abaggregation and regulating the acetylcholine imbalance to achieve a combination therapy. At the same time, the team modified such nanoparticles with TAT peptide and targeted agent GM1to endow this nanosystem with high brain entry efficiency, drug administration accuracy, and long‐term retention capabilities through intranasal administration.
According to the experimental results, the AD mice treated with such novel nanodrugs have mitigated the AD dysfunction including mitigation of neurotoxicity, neuroinflammation and regulation of acetylcholine imbalance.
"This novel drug uses nanotechnology to co-encapsulate two AD therapeutic drugs in a nanoparticle for the first time, achieving a synergy and combination therapy." The team leader Professor Chang, Jin said.
"We hope to provide a new candidate for the therapy of AD with highly efficient synergy and good biosafety, which could bring new hope to patients." Professor Chang added.
Relevant results of the team’s research have been published in "Advanced Science".
By: Sun Xiaofang
