Millions of Americans suffer from neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Researchers have identified new treatments, such as cerebrolysin, which are promising, but present clinical approaches are ineffective as critical concentrations of the drug dissipate within the body prior to reaching the central nervous system and brain.

Researchers addressed this problem by focusing on different delivery vehicles for sustained and targeted drug discharge. An effective, targeted approach would prevent the need for inefficient, high dosages that lead to adverse side effects.

Biomedical engineers have performed experiments with nanomaterials as an approach to targeted delivery in recent years. Under the direction of Ryan Tian, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Arkansas, Doctoral Student Asya Ozkizilcik has enhanced the nanowiring of drugs for a global team of researchers who are currently working on a new method for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Recently, at Neuroscience 2017, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, held in Washington, D.C., Ozkizilcik, on behalf of the global research team, delivered two presentations on nanowired delivery of cerebrolysin in neuropathological models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The research carried out by the team was selected as being newsworthy from a pool of almost 14,000 abstracts. Their research was also incorporated in the Society’s Hot Topics book.

Image Credit:  Eric Pipkin, University Relations, University of Arkansas 

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