https://www.drugtargetreview.com/news/189235/new-nanotherapy-clears-amyloid-%CE%B2-reversing-alzheimers-in-mice/ Recommended Discover how to overcome low affinity or poor TCR yields that are slowing you down in this upcoming webinar - register your details today WEBINAR | Discover how advances can expand the possibilities for drug discovery, from target validation to preclinical development Facing roadblocks in obesity drug discovery? Discover how integrated, validated strategies are helping teams accelerate development and reduce risk - register your details now Unlock the science, strategy and real-world impact behind the next generation of precision therapies - access our new brand report now >> Safety data is no longer just a regulatory checkbox - it's a strategic advantage. Find out more in our upcoming webinar, register your details today WEBINAR | Join top cancer researchers to explore advances transforming early discovery, from new targets and models to the therapies of tomorrow [gif][dtr-logo-l] [gif][ajax-loade] About us | Advertise with us | Contact us [ ] [gif][ajax-loade] Menu * Home * Cancer Research hub * News * Articles * Publications * Videos * Podcasts * Webinars * Whitepapers / App Notes * Content Hubs * Events + Liverpool Breakfast Briefing + Industry Events + Close * Targets * Screening * Stem Cells * Hit-to-Lead * Omics * Imaging * Informatics * Regs & Legs * Women in Stem news New nanotherapy clears amyloid-b reversing Alzheimer's in mice 4 SHARES * * * * * * * * * * * * Share via * Pinterest * Reddit * Buffer * Xing * WhatsApp * Flipboard Posted: 7 October 2025 | Drug Target Review | No comments yet Researchers have developed bioactive nanoparticles that restore the brain's blood-brain barrier and clear toxic proteins, reversing Alzheimer's symptoms in mice and offering a promising new approach to treating the disease. [gif][shutterstock_1295575795-e1759845449817-750x500] A new study by a research team co-led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and West China Hospital Sichuan University (WCHSU), in collaboration with partners in the UK, have used a nanotechnology strategy that reverses Alzheimer's disease in mice. Unlike traditional nanomedicine, which relies on nanoparticles as carriers for therapeutic molecules, this approach uses nanoparticles that are bioactive, called 'supramolecular drugs.' Instead of targeting neurons directly, this method focuses on repairing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the brain's defence against harmful substances. By restoring proper BBB function, the researchers achieved a reversal of Alzheimer's pathology in animal models. The importance of brain vasculature The brain consumes the greatest amount energy out of any other organ in the body, consuming 20 percent in adults and up to 60 percent in children. This energy is delivered through a dense vascular system in which each neuron is nourished by a capillary. With approximately one billion capillaries in the human brain, maintaining vascular health is crucial, particularly in conditions like Alzheimer's, where vascular function is weakened and linked to disease progression. access your free copy Biomarkers are redefining how precision therapies are discovered, validated and delivered. This exclusive expert-led report reveals how leading teams are using biomarker science to drive faster insights, cleaner data and more targeted treatments - from discovery to diagnostics. Inside the report: * How leading organisations are reshaping strategy with biomarker-led approaches * Better tools for real-time decision-making - turning complex data into faster insights * Global standardisation and assay sensitivity - what it takes to scale across networks Discover how biomarker science is addressing the biggest hurdles in drug discovery, translational research and precision medicine - access your free copy today The BBB is a protective barrier between the brain and blood flow, stopping harmful substances such as pathogens and toxins from entering. By targeting specific mechanisms within the BBB, the research team enabled the removal of undesirable waste proteins produced in the brain. In Alzheimer's disease, the main waste protein is amyloid-b (Ab), whose accumulation disrupts normal brain function. [gif][Non-treated-mouse-brain] Brain Before: Light sheet fluorescence microscope images of mouse brain 12h after NOT being treated with nanoparticles. The brains were analysed to see the amount of Ab plaques accumulation. Red: Ab plaques. Green: vessels from the blood brain barrier. Credit: Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) Rapid reduction of amyloid-b The researchers tested their approach in mice genetically programmed to overproduce Ab and develop cognitive decline similar to Alzheimer's pathology. Following only three doses of supramolecular drugs, the team observed significant therapeutic effects. Following only three doses of supramolecular drugs, the team observed significant therapeutic effects. "Only 1hr after the injection we observed a reduction of 50-60 percent in Ab amount inside the brain," said Junyang Chen, first co-author of the study, researcher at WCHSU and PhD student at University College London. Behavioural tests conducted over several months demonstrated remarkable improvements. In one experiment, a 12-month-old mouse - equivalent to a 60-year-old human - received the nanoparticles and was evaluated six months later. The animal, now 18 months old - comparable to a 90-year-old human - exhibited the behaviour of a healthy mouse. Restoring natural clearance mechanisms "The long-term effect comes from restoring the brain's vasculature. We think it works like a cascade: when toxic species such as amyloid-beta (Ab) accumulate, disease progresses. But once the vasculature is able to function again, it starts clearing Ab and other harmful molecules, allowing the whole system to recover its balance. What's remarkable is that our nanoparticles act as a drug and seem to activate a feedback mechanism that brings this clearance pathway back to normal levels," explained Giuseppe Battaglia, ICREA Research Professor at IBEC and leader of the study. Normally, the protein LRP1 acts as a molecular gatekeeper, binding to Ab and transporting it across the BBB for elimination. In Alzheimer's, this system becomes fragile, leading to Ab accumulation. The supramolecular drugs mimic LRP1 ligands, binding to Ab and initiating its clearance, effectively resetting the system and restoring vascular function. [gif][Low-Res_BrainTreated_RedPlaque_GreenVessels] Brain After: Light sheet fluorescence microscope image of mouse brain 12h after being treated with nanoparticles. The brains were analysed to see the amount of Ab plaques accumulation. Red: Ab plaques. Green: vessels from the blood brain barrier. Credit: Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) A new therapeutic possibility The nanoparticles are designed using a bottom-up molecular engineering approach, combining precise size control with defined surface ligands to interact with cellular receptors in a highly specific manner. This allows them to modulate receptor function, clear amyloid-b and restore vascular balance. Our study demonstrated remarkable efficacy in achieving rapid Ab clearance "Our study demonstrated remarkable efficacy in achieving rapid Ab clearance, restoring healthy function in the blood-brain barrier and leading to a striking reversal of Alzheimer's pathology," said Lorena Ruiz Perez, researcher at IBEC and Serra Hunter Assistant Professor at the University of Barcelona. The study demonstrates how restoring the brain's vascular function with bioactive nanoparticles can clear toxic proteins and reverse cognitive decline in mice. The findings could lead to further development pf new therapies that target vascular health to combat neurodegenerative diseases. Related topics Animal Models, Bioengineering, Central Nervous System (CNS), Drug Delivery, Drug Discovery, Nanomedicine, Nanotechnology, Neurosciences , Translational Science Related conditions Alzheimer's Related organisations the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), West China Hospital Sichuan University (WCHSU) Related people Giuseppe Battaglia (ICREA Research Professor at IBEC), Junyang Chen (researcher at WCHSU and PhD student at University College London) By Drug Target Review 7 October 2025 No comments yet Shares 4 * * * * * * * * * * * Share via * Pinterest * Reddit * Buffer * Xing * Flipboard Related topics Animal Models, Bioengineering, Central Nervous System (CNS), Drug Delivery, Drug Discovery, Nanomedicine, Nanotechnology, Neurosciences , Translational Science Related conditions Alzheimer's Related organisations the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), West China Hospital Sichuan University (WCHSU) Related people Giuseppe Battaglia (ICREA Research Professor at IBEC), Junyang Chen (researcher at WCHSU and PhD student at University College London) Most popular... * Inside Zasocitinib: a new model for TYK2 inhibition in immune-mediated diseases * Fighting MS progression: why GPR17 is the target to watch * New nanotherapy clears amyloid-b reversing Alzheimer's in mice * Overcoming barriers to oncology combination therapies in the UK and EU * Advancing gene editing: the role of lipid nanoparticles in CRISPR delivery Screening the future innovations in drug discoveryScreening the future innovations in drug discovery Read the latest issue All subscriptions include online membership, giving you access to the journal and exclusive content. 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