Nanoparticles for therapy of Alzheimer disease

Massimo MASSERINI, Università di Milano-Bicocca - Amypopharma

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide accumulation and deposition in the brain. Aβ alterations are thought to take place decades before the appearance of the first signs of dementia: this preclinical phase is considered the most promising period for successful disease-modifying therapies, which are still lacking. Since negatively charged lipids showed high binding affinity toward Aβ peptide and low-density lipoprotein-receptor was observed to be present at the blood-brain barrier,

We designed and patented liposomes functionalized with phosphatidic acid and with a modified peptide derived from apolipoprotein-E (mApoE-PA-LIP) potentially able to enter the brain and disaggregate Aβ aggregates both in vitro and in vivo. We  evaluated the possibility to use mApoE-PA-LIP for threatment of AD  on different Tg rodent models of the disease, namely APP/PS1 or APP23 mice.

The  data obtained in vivo  suggest that mApoE-PA-LIP is able either to promote the decrease  of  brain Aβ burden and the amelioration of memory impairment in “old” Tg mice upon acute treatment,  or to slow down brain Aβ accumulation and memory impairment in “young” upon long term treatment.  Together, these data indicate mApoE-PA-LIP as a new nanothecnological device potentially suitable for AD treatment. 

 
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