Microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases
Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the design of nanotherapeutic platforms that could address the challenges of targeted delivery of active therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). While the majority of previous research studies on CNS nanotherapeutics have focused on neurons and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AIP Publishing LLC
2020-09-01
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| Series: | APL Bioengineering |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0013178 |
| _version_ | 1828814837266776064 |
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| author | Nanxia Zhao Nicola L. Francis Hannah R. Calvelli Prabhas V. Moghe |
| author_facet | Nanxia Zhao Nicola L. Francis Hannah R. Calvelli Prabhas V. Moghe |
| author_sort | Nanxia Zhao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Advances in nanotechnology have enabled the design of nanotherapeutic platforms that could address the challenges of targeted delivery of active therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). While the majority of previous research studies on CNS nanotherapeutics have focused on neurons and endothelial cells, the predominant resident immune cells of the CNS, microglia, are also emerging as a promising cellular target for neurodegeneration considering their prominent role in neuroinflammation. Under normal physiological conditions, microglia protect neurons by removing pathological agents. However, long-term exposure of microglia to stimulants will cause sustained activation and lead to neuronal damage due to the release of pro-inflammatory agents, resulting in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. This Perspective highlights criteria to be considered when designing microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. These criteria include conjugating specific microglial receptor-targeting ligands or peptides to the nanoparticle surface to achieve targeted delivery, leveraging microglial phagocytic properties, and utilizing biocompatible and biodegradable nanomaterials with low immune reactivity and neurotoxicity. In addition, certain therapeutic agents for the controlled inhibition of toxic protein aggregation and for modulation of microglial activation pathways can also be incorporated within the nanoparticle structure without compromising stability. Overall, considering the multifaceted disease mechanisms of neurodegeneration, microglia-targeted nanodrugs and nanotherapeutic particles may have the potential to resolve multiple pathological determinants of the disease and to guide a shift in the microglial phenotype spectrum toward a more neuroprotective state. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:31:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-715727c0a8704aa4aec9fc4c920572fd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2473-2877 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:31:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | AIP Publishing LLC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | APL Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-715727c0a8704aa4aec9fc4c920572fd2022-12-22T00:27:19ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Bioengineering2473-28772020-09-0143030902030902-1610.1063/5.0013178Microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseasesNanxia Zhao0Nicola L. Francis1Hannah R. Calvelli2Prabhas V. Moghe3 Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, 98 Brett Rd., Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA Department of Biomedical Engineering, 599 Taylor Rd., Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, 604 Allison Rd., Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, 98 Brett Rd., Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USAAdvances in nanotechnology have enabled the design of nanotherapeutic platforms that could address the challenges of targeted delivery of active therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). While the majority of previous research studies on CNS nanotherapeutics have focused on neurons and endothelial cells, the predominant resident immune cells of the CNS, microglia, are also emerging as a promising cellular target for neurodegeneration considering their prominent role in neuroinflammation. Under normal physiological conditions, microglia protect neurons by removing pathological agents. However, long-term exposure of microglia to stimulants will cause sustained activation and lead to neuronal damage due to the release of pro-inflammatory agents, resulting in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. This Perspective highlights criteria to be considered when designing microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. These criteria include conjugating specific microglial receptor-targeting ligands or peptides to the nanoparticle surface to achieve targeted delivery, leveraging microglial phagocytic properties, and utilizing biocompatible and biodegradable nanomaterials with low immune reactivity and neurotoxicity. In addition, certain therapeutic agents for the controlled inhibition of toxic protein aggregation and for modulation of microglial activation pathways can also be incorporated within the nanoparticle structure without compromising stability. Overall, considering the multifaceted disease mechanisms of neurodegeneration, microglia-targeted nanodrugs and nanotherapeutic particles may have the potential to resolve multiple pathological determinants of the disease and to guide a shift in the microglial phenotype spectrum toward a more neuroprotective state.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0013178 |
| spellingShingle | Nanxia Zhao Nicola L. Francis Hannah R. Calvelli Prabhas V. Moghe Microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases APL Bioengineering |
| title | Microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases |
| title_full | Microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases |
| title_fullStr | Microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases |
| title_short | Microglia-targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases |
| title_sort | microglia targeting nanotherapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0013178 |
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