Nanoparticles (NPs) are colloidal structures with sizes between 20 – 200nm, which can be obtained from a large variety of materials and methods. Nowadays, the use of NPs for biomedical applications is experiencing an increasing interest. An easy, reproducible and versatile method to prepare polymeric NPs is by nano-emulsion templating1. This technology allows working in mild conditions (e.g. room temperature), avoiding degradation of thermolabile compounds like proteins or drugs. Biocompatible, biodegradable and safety materials are required for the preparation of nanoparticles intended for biomedical applications. These structures can be used as suitable systems for controlled drug delivery due to their role enhancing drug efficacy and reducing side effects. In this context, polymeric NPs can be considered promising carriers to treat complex diseases like neurodegenerative disorders. These diseases are generally responsible of neurologic disability and cognitive or motor problems. Currently, the treatment of neurological disorders with specific antioxidant drugs showed promising results. However, only a low percentage of the administered drug is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) due to its protection function from exogenous components, leading to the administration of high dosages to reach a therapeutic effect. Loading polymeric NPs with such specific drugs and functionalizing them with molecules enhancing drug permeability to the BBB, with recognition moieties such as specific antibodies and/or with Cell Penetrating Peptides (CPPs), promising to promote cellular uptake, are interesting strategies to favor drug penetration into brain cells3. For this reason, the main objective of this work is to design new multifunctional NPs prepared by nano-emulsion templating to enhance drug uptake for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Trabajo presentado en la III Jornada de Investigadores Predoctorales Interdisciplinaria (JIPI2015), celebrada en Barcelona el 5 de febrero de 2015

Peer reviewed