Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have developed a new method that uses nitrous oxide to safely enhance the delivery of gene therapy to the brain by making the blood-brain barrier more permeable. The approach required significantly lower concentrations of microbubbles and ultrasound pressure than conventional techniques, reducing the risk of tissue damage.
The study, published in Gene Therapy, used mouse models to test the method, which involved using nitrous oxide instead of medical air during the delivery process. The results showed that the new approach was able to deliver gene therapy more efficiently, with significantly greater uptake of the gene than when breathing air. The technique also required up to 1,000 times fewer microbubbles and much lower FUS pressure to open the blood-brain barrier.
The researchers’ next step will be to test this approach in clinical trials to potentially treat a variety of brain diseases and disorders. This breakthrough could provide new ways to deliver targeted therapeutic delivery to the brain, improving care for diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors.
According to study leader Bhavya R. Shah, “The approach we explored in this study has the potential to advance care for diseases of the brain that can be treated by targeted therapeutic delivery.” The study was funded by a UTSW High Impact Grant, and the researchers are optimistic about the potential of their new method to improve treatment options for patients with neurological disorders.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/nitrous-oxide-bbb-genetics-29145