Method to Improve Brain Penetration of Nanoparticles

Unmet Need / Invention Novelty: Drug delivery to the brain is hindered by the brain’s wide perivascular space and protein-dense extracellular matrix, which limits diffusion of drugs from site of administration into the brain parenchyma. Methods are needed to improve the penetration of drugs into the brain parenchyma.

Technical Details: Johns Hopkins inventors have developed a method to improve brain penetration of nanoparticles. The method comprises 1) developing a non-adhesive nanoparticle and 2) administering this nanoparticle in a hyperosmolar solution into the brain using convection enhanced delivery (CED). This strategy improves the overall homogeneity and volume of distribution of an administered nanoparticle when infused into the brain.  Researchers demonstrated that a 60 nm, non-adhesive nanoparticle administered into the striatum via CED in a 3% hyperosmolar solution achieves higher and more homogeneous volumes of distribution throughout the brain interstitium. This can be attributed to the nanoparticle’s ability to travel through and escape from perivascular spaces (PVS) and back into the brain interstitium

Value Proposition:

• Method to improve brain penetration of non-adhesive nanoparticles
• Supports nanoparticles with diameters up to 114 nm and weights up to 10,000 Daltons
• Improved trafficking through the PVS of the brain
• Achieves wide distribution of nanoparticles at low initial concentrations
• Compatible with drug delivery methods such as convection enhanced delivery

Looking for Partners to: Develop & commercialize the technology as a method to improve brain penetration of nanoparticles

 Stage of Development: Pre-Clinical

Data Availability: In Vivo and Ex Vivo animal data

Publications: Zhang C, et.al, J Control Release. 2017 Dec 10;267:232-239. doi: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.07.028.