Targeted delivery of drugs to brain glial cells using nanoparticles
Official title: Nanotherapeutics for Targeted Glial Cell Drug Delivery
Funded at Boston University (Charles River Campus) · NIH-11063146 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring new ways to deliver treatments directly to important brain cells that help keep our brains healthy, aiming to improve therapies for conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's by using tiny particles that can target these cells more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University (Charles River Campus) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $206,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS133525-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11063146 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with neurodegenerative disorders that involve glial cell dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to glial cell dysfunction or those not affected by neurodegenerative diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative nanoparticle-based strategies to deliver therapies specifically to glial cells in the brain, such as microglia and astrocytes. These glial cells play a crucial role in maintaining brain health, and their dysfunction is linked to neurodegenerative diseases. The project aims to optimize dendrimer nanoparticles that can target these cells by utilizing unique molecular features found on their surfaces. By enhancing the delivery of therapeutic mRNA to these specific cell types, the research seeks to correct the underlying dysfunctions contributing to central nervous system diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatments for neurodegenerative disorders by specifically targeting the cells responsible for disease progression.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery is gaining traction, this specific application to glial cells is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University (Charles River Campus)
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'shea, Timothy Mark — Boston University (Charles River Campus)
- Study coordinator: O'shea, Timothy Mark
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.