Now this is good information, the kind we need to give us courage & hope.
Let's keep these kinds of articles coming & stop the bantering back & forth on
things that are two sided situations which we have discussed to the fullest.
> Texas Tech Health: Therapies for neurodegenerative diseases under way
>
>
> By David D. Allen
>
>
>
> More than 10 million people worldwide suffer the progressively
> debilitating effects of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's
> and Parkinson's disease and stroke. To effectively treat the symptoms
> associated with such conditions - and ultimately slow or stop their
> progression - a drug must be able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
>
>
> That is why researchers at the Texas Tech University School of Pharmacy
> and the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy have been working
> together to develop novel nanoparticles that can safely cross the
> blood-brain barrier and subsequently be targeted to deliver an effective
> drug into the brain.
>
>
> Nanoparticles refer to particles whose diameter is measured in
> "billionths" of meters. For perspective, a hair from a person's head is
> about 50,000 nanometers wide.
>
>
> The blood-brain barrier is formed by the cells of blood vessels in the
> brain that are held together tightly, essentially forming a wall that
> shields delicate brain tissue from toxins in the bloodstream.
>
>
> Many of today's drugs cannot cross the blood-brain barrier when injected
> or taken orally. Instead, they must be released from a device that has
> been implanted into the brain or delivered directly to the brain via
> needle injection. As a result, drugs that may one day delay or stop the
> ultimate outcome of neurodegenerative conditions are prohibited from
> entering the brain. That is why finding methods that successfully
> deliver drugs to the brain when administered by an injection or taken as
> a pill is critical for developing new therapies that can safely and
> effectively treat or halt the progression of diseases like Alzheimer's.
>
>
> University of Kentucky researchers Dr. Russell J. Mumper and Dr. Michael
> Jay spent nearly two years developing a breakthrough manufacturing
> process that enables particles to be produced that are less than 100
> nanometers in diameter. These nanoparticles are made from
> biologically-compatible materials that can be found in many of today's
> food products or are currently used in the formulation of many
> prescription and over-the-counter medicines. And because materials this
> small exhibit different physiological, chemical and biological
> properties, researchers think they can be used in the development of new
> drugs which can be targeted to work in brain tissue.
>
>
> To date, the Texas Tech-University of Kentucky research team has
> demonstrated in multiple studies in the laboratory that novel
> nanoparticles can safely cross the blood-brain barrier following a
> conventional injection. In addition, these nanoparticles can achieve
> uptake levels in the brain that are comparable to existing drugs used to
> treat central nervous system disorders. The researchers are not aware of
> any other studies that achieved similar results.
>
>
> The nanoparticle manufacturing process has been licensed to NanoMed
> Pharmaceuticals Inc. NanoMed is developing nanoparticle-based advanced
> drug delivery systems to deliver drugs to the brain and hopes to
> commercialize the findings of Texas Tech and University of Kentucky
> researchers by working with other companies who are seeking to develop
> new drugs to treat neurodegenerative conditions. The company and its
> research collaborators hope to begin testing the new drugs in humans
> within two years.
>
>
> David is an associate professor at Texas Tech University School of
> Pharmacy and a scientific advisory board member of NanoMed
> Pharmaceuticals Inc.
>
>
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