Ionic liquid–assisted delivery to brain cells to treat HIV in the brain
Official title: Ionic liquid-assisted drug delivery to brain reservoirs for treatment of neuroHIV
Funded at University of Mississippi · NIH-11333776 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new method uses special ionic liquids to help antiviral drugs reach HIV reservoirs in the brain, potentially improving treatment for people with HIV who also have brain involvement or opioid-related barriers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $750,726 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA056875-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11333776 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living with HIV who have or are at risk for CNS viral reservoirs and may benefit from improved brain delivery of antiretroviral therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without HIV CNS involvement or those unable to tolerate the proposed delivery system may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds a nanoparticle system that uses biocompatible ionic liquids to hitchhike drugs across the brain-blood barrier and target microglia, aiming to deliver antiretroviral therapy more effectively to the CNS. The team has shown in rats that a large portion of nanoparticles reach the brain within hours and that microglia carry most of the brain-associated particles. They have loaded abacavir into these nanoparticles and observed antiviral effects in HIV-infected human immune cells in the lab. The work seeks to further tune the ionic liquid formulation to also reach other brain cell types like astrocytes while maintaining safety and efficacy. If successful, this approach could reduce CNS HIV reservoirs and improve overall treatment outcomes for patients with HIV.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better control of HIV in the brain, potentially reducing neurological complications.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical data in animals shows increased brain delivery and microglia targeting, supporting progression to human studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Mississippi
University, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tanner, Eden — University of Mississippi
- Study coordinator: Tanner, Eden
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.