Silica nanoparticles could potentially revolutionise treatment for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and strokes, say US chemists.

Michal Stachowiak from the State University of New York, Buffalo, and colleagues have previously studied organically modified silica nanoparticles as gene delivery vehicles. From their results they have now designed nanoparticles that can be used to carry a gene for a form of protein FGFR1 into neuronal stem cells in mouse brains. The protein targets a signalling pathway in the cells, stimulating them to form mature neurons - a process called neurogenesis.

Injecting nanoparticle-bound DNA into the brain stimulates stem cells to differentiate into neurons

The group is looking at stimulating neurogenesis with a view to the therapeutic applications. Stachowiak explains that they want to see if it is possible to 'generate a wave of new neurons from stem cells and direct them to the affected areas.' In this way the technology could potentially be used to cure certain brain diseases, particularly in the case of a stroke, which happens as a single episode and is therefore not continuously attacking the brain. 

Injae Shin, an expert in genetics, from Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea, says that the work is 'exciting' and agrees it has the potential to treat neurological diseases. However, currently the procedure involves microinjecting the nanoparticles, which is a complicated process. Shin adds that for practical applications he hopes that future work will bring about an alternative way to deliver the genes.

The team has been looking at the signalling pathway in brain cells for over a decade, and has progressed its studies into rats, showing that the effects are not species-specific. The next step will be to assess the procedure in other species, with the eventual aim of using the particles in humans.

Ben Merison

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