Sugar-based nanoparticles to carry medicine into injured brain cells
Novel Glucose dendrimers for targeting injured neurons
Using sugar-built nanoparticles to deliver protective drugs directly into injured brain cells after stroke, seizure, or head trauma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159835 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I had a recent stroke, seizure, or head injury, this project aims to build tiny sugar-based particles that home in on damaged neurons by taking advantage of their increased glucose uptake. The team will make dendrimer nanoparticles from glucose building blocks designed to stick to neuronal glucose transport pathways and be taken up into injured cells. Researchers will test these particles in lab models and animal systems to see where they go, how long they stay in neurons, and whether they can carry and release neuroprotective drugs safely. The work builds on earlier dendrimer therapies that targeted immune cells in the brain and moves toward targeting neurons themselves.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for future trials would be people with recent acute brain injury such as stroke, seizure-related injury, or traumatic brain injury where neurons near the injury are metabolically active.
Not a fit: People with chronic neurodegenerative conditions without signs of acute neuronal injury or without increased neuronal glucose uptake may not benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could let treatments reach injured neurons more accurately and reduce brain damage after acute injuries.
How similar studies have performed: Related dendrimer therapies have shown promise in preclinical models and early-phase trials for targeting brain immune cells, but glucose-based dendrimers aimed at injured neurons are a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rangaramanujam, Kannan — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Rangaramanujam, Kannan
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 below.