Implants deliver drugs through the blood-brain barrier
S. Himmelstein | January 03, 2020The semipermeable membrane that prevents penetration of pathogens and other deleterious agents into the brain also blocks passage of therapeutic medicines. Ultrasound technology can be applied to help drugs cross this blood-brain barrier in a complex, costly process that must be performed each time a dose is needed. A The biodegradable ultrasonic transducer can be used to facilitate delivery of drugs into the brain. Source: University of Connecticutbiodegradable implant developed at University of Connecticut offers a simpler, repeatable route to ultrasonically deliver drugs into the brain.
The implantable ultrasonic transducer is based on a biocompatible piezoelectric nanofiber platform of poly- L-lactic acid nanofibers. The 200 nm-wide fibers are woven into a mesh as high voltage is applied during the spinning process, which also serves to increase piezoelectric response and vibration strength of the material. The nanofibers were used to fabricate a highly sensitive biodegradable pressure sensor for monitoring physiological pressures and a biodegradable ultrasonic transducer for blood–brain barrier opening that can be used to facilitate the delivery of drugs into the brain.
The devices can self-degrade, as demonstrated in laboratory mice, and therefore do not require invasive removal surgeries. Ongoing research will test the transducer in larger animal models for longer durations, and is expected to improve vibration intensity for optimizing the movement of medicine through the barrier.