An “ambulance” for the brain
The brain is protected by a barrier of cells that tightly regulates the transport of substances into this organ in order to prevent infection. The essential protective function of this barrier is also a red light for 98% of drug candidates for the treatment of the central nervous system. Now, a study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie presents a shuttle able to cross the blood-brain barrier and transport various substances into the brain. The study has been developed by a group of scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), led by Ernerst Giralt, professor in the Department of Organic Chemistry of the UB. Gustavo Egea, professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Immunology and Neurosciences, participated in the study too. Now, the scientific team is studying its application for specific medical conditions.
The brain is protected by a barrier of cells that tightly regulates the transport of substances into this organ in order to prevent infection. The essential protective function of this barrier is also a red light for 98% of drug candidates for the treatment of the central nervous system. Now, a study published in the journal Angewandte Chemie presents a shuttle able to cross the blood-brain barrier and transport various substances into the brain. The study has been developed by a group of scientists at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), led by Ernerst Giralt, professor in the Department of Organic Chemistry of the UB. Gustavo Egea, professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Immunology and Neurosciences, participated in the study too. Now, the scientific team is studying its application for specific medical conditions.