Unlocking the brain: Peptide-guided nanoparticles deliver mRNA to neurons

University of Pennsylvania Engineers have modified lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)—the revolutionary technology behind the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines—to not only cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) but also to target specific types of cells, including neurons. This breakthrough marks a significant step toward potential next-generation treatments for neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The researchers demonstrate how peptides—short strings of amino acids—can serve as precise targeting molecules, enabling LNPs to deliver mRNA specifically to the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels of the brain, as well as neurons.

The lab’s initial research “was like showing we could send a package from Pennsylvania to California, but we had no idea where in California it would end up,” says Michael J. Mitchell, associate professor in bioengineering and the paper’s senior author. “Now, with peptides, we can address the package to specific destinations with shared features, like every house with a red mailbox.”

The research results are published in this article.

Read the full article at UPenn News.