Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects

Effective treatment of brain related disorders requires an adequate distribution of drugs into the brain. For many drugs,penetration into the brain is restricted by the brain capillaries that form what is referred to as the blood-brain barrier (BBB).The current research project will develop iron-oxide based nanoparticles as a delivery platform for enhancing the brainpenetration of drugs. Our approach is to utilize the magnetic properties of the nanoparticles to ""pull"" them through the BBBby applying a magnetic field to the brain. Optimization of the outer surface properties of the magnetic nanoparticles will beperformed to target the nanoparticles to the junctions between the brain capillary endothelial cells which in the presence of amagnetic field will enhance BBB penetration. Once optimization is achieved, studies will be preformed to determine the biocompatibilityand safety profile of these magnetic nanoparticles at both the cell culture and whole animal (mouse) level. Thisis important as the potential brain related toxicity of these particular nanoparticles is unknown. Finally, using a prototypemagnetic nanoparticle, we will perform proof-of-principle studies demonstrating the increased delivery of chemotherapeuticagents to target sites in a mouse brain tumor model. Our overall objective is to determine the optimal surface properties andmagnetic field strengths to achieve brain penetration, as well as to characterize the bio-compatibility and safety profile ofthese magnetic nanoparticles for brain related applications.