University of Queensland researchers have developed a groundbreaking device that integrates ultrasound and advanced imaging technology to enhance the safe delivery of drugs into the brain, potentially transforming treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
The innovative system allows real-time imaging of brain cells after ultrasound treatment, enabling targeted drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier. This breakthrough addresses a major challenge in neurology, where effective drug delivery to targeted brain regions has remained elusive.
Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier Challenge
The blood-brain barrier presents a significant obstacle to drug delivery, blocking most medications from entering the brain. Currently, only about 1-2 percent of small molecule drugs actually reach the brain, according to Dr. Pranesh Padmanabhan from UQ's School of Biomedical Sciences and Queensland Brain Institute, who led the study.
"The goal is really to improve the rate of uptake of drugs into the brain, as currently only about 1-2 percent of small molecule drugs actually reach it," said Padmanabhan.
The device employs sonoporation, an emerging strategy that uses ultrasound-activated microbubbles to briefly open tiny pores in the blood-brain barrier. During this process, sound waves interact with injected microbubbles, causing them to vibrate and exert force on the blood-brain barrier to create microscopic pores at the cell surface, allowing drug delivery to brain tissue.
Real-Time Cellular Monitoring
The custom-built system, developed over five years, enables scientists to track cellular changes at the single-cell and molecule level after ultrasound treatment. This capability allows researchers to identify and map changes in treated cells and observe how they respond and recover.
"This device will enable scientists to understand how ultrasound-based treatments work at the single-molecule and single-cell levels," Padmanabhan explained. "Insights from this device will help inform ultrasound treatment protocols and establish a balance where uptake of drugs into the brain is effective, yet still safe."
Clinical Applications and Future Potential
The technology could significantly impact the treatment of neurodegenerative brain disorders, where drugs need to target specific areas of the brain. The real-time observation capabilities provide crucial information for optimizing protocols for safer and more effective drug delivery.
"It has the potential to improve treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, where drugs target specific areas of the brain," Padmanabhan noted.
Beyond neurological applications, the technology offers new possibilities for sonoporation-based therapies in other medical fields. Researchers indicated that the results could help inform treatment in cardiology and oncology, where sonoporation shows great promise.
The research findings have been published in the Journal of Controlled Release, marking a significant advancement in the field of targeted drug delivery and brain therapeutics.
