New smart drug delivery system may help treatment for neurological
disorders
Drug delivery technology is aimed at helping people with spinal cord and
other nervous system disorders

Date:
September 17, 2020
Source:
Rutgers University
Summary:
A research team has created a smart drug delivery system that
reduces inflammation in damaged nervous tissues and may help treat
spinal cord injuries and other neurological disorders. The system,
which uses extremely thin biomaterials implanted in the body,
also protects nerve fibers (axons) that connect nerve cells in
injured neural tissues, according to a new study.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A Rutgers-led team has created a smart drug delivery system that reduces inflammation in damaged nervous tissues and may help treat spinal cord
injuries and other neurological disorders.


==========================================================================
The system, which uses extremely thin biomaterials implanted in the body,
also protects nerve fibers (axons) that connect nerve cells in injured
neural tissues, according to a study in the journal Advanced Materials.

Inflammation typically is a major factor during recovery from central
nervous system diseases and injuries. Some regenerative medicine
approaches have shown great potential for treating spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease,
stroke and other neurological disorders. But suppressing the immune system during treatment can lead to side effects and boost the risk of infection.

"A major goal is to suppress neuroinflammation and restore a healthy
micro- environment at sites of neurological disorders," said senior
author KiBum Lee, a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New
Brunswick. "Our system took four years to develop and has shown enormous potential for smart drug delivery for better treatment of neurological disorders." The team's unique drug delivery system consists of ultrathin nanomaterials, sugar polymers and neural proteins. The system, which
releases an anti- inflammatory molecule (methylprednisolone), can create
a favorable micro- environment to promote tissue repair and recovery
after neurological injury.

By developing innovative, multifunctional and reliable drug delivery
systems that use nano-biomaterials, Lee's research group aims to improve
the treatment of neurological disorders. The team believes the new system
may pave the way for treating not only central nervous system injuries,
but also other diseases, since inflammation generally is associated with
a variety of problems such as cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis,
diabetes and cancer.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Rutgers_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Letao Yang, Brian M. Conley, Susana R. Cerqueira, Thanapat
Pongkulapa,
Shenqiang Wang, Jae K. Lee, Ki-Bum Lee. Effective Modulation
of CNS Inhibitory Microenvironment using Bioinspired
Hybrid-Nanoscaffold-Based Therapeutic Interventions. Advanced
Materials, 2020; 2002578 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202002578 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200917084045.htm

--- up 3 weeks, 3 days, 6 hours, 50 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)