American scientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a non-invasive method that delivers drugs directly to the brain using ultrasound and microbubbles. The method allows drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which protects the organ from external factors. The research was published in the scientific journal magazine Nature Communications (NatComms).
The BBB allows a limited number of substances to enter the brain, including water, oxygen, and general anesthetics, which are very small molecules. At the same time, many life-saving treatments for cancer or Alzheimer’s disease cannot overcome this barrier.
In a new study, the team learned to temporarily open windows in the BBB by exposing microbubbles in the protein shell with ultrasound.
Microbubbles expand and contract rapidly when exposed to focused ultrasonic waves. This slight mechanical force shakes the protective barrier surrounding the brain, creating tiny holes for drugs to pass through.
Researchers conducted studies on mice. They identified a resonance frequency that increased the movement of microbubbles.
Experiments have shown that certain ultrasound frequencies can increase the action of immune cells and increase drug accumulation in brain tumors.
They also found that higher ultrasound frequencies, although effective in opening the BBB, were also accompanied by increased expression of inflammatory markers on the endothelial cells of the barrier.
Scientists hope that the proposed method will not only make it possible to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases more effectively, but also make it possible to learn more about the brain.
Previous researchers to create Microplastics in the human brain.
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Source: Gazeta
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