Advantages
- Targeted modulation of neuroinflammation using Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC)-derived “induced” exosomes
- Intranasal exosome delivery facilitates improved Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) penetration
- Addresses underlying neuroinflammatory processes driving neurodegenerative diseases, moving beyond symptomatic treatment approaches
Summary
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are driven by chronic neuroinflammation and accumulation of toxic proteins which trigger sustained microglial activation, facilitating neuronal loss. The current therapeutic landscape is largely restricted to palliative treatments focusing on symptomatic relief, which do not halt disease progression or address underlying pathologies. Furthermore, a critical barrier in treatment development is reduced BBB penetration, which severely limits delivery of therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). MSCs have been explored for immunomodulatory potential; however, face hurdles to direct cell transplantation such as poor cell survival and entrapment risk in peripheral organs, highlighting an urgent need for safer, cell-free delivery systems that can effectively penetrate the BBB and modulate the inflammatory microenvironment.
Our researchers have developed a novel therapeutic platform utilizing MSC-derived exosomes that have been “induced” through exposure to conditioned media from microglia activated by lipopolysaccharide or Aβ oligomers. These lipid vesicles can effectively cross the BBB via intranasal administration and can be engineered to carry therapeutic payloads such all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), to inhibit toxic peptide production. This invention’s novel treatment strategy enhances the exosomes’ immunomodulatory properties because this “induction” process suppresses microglial and astrocyte activation more effectively than standard MSC exosomes, providing a biocompatible, disease-modifying method of treating neurodegenerative diseases by targeting the root cause of neuroinflammation.
Induction of anti-inflammatory exosome cargo
Desired Partnerships