Alleviates depression by delivering mono-clonal antibodies to brain

Penetrating BBB to deliver drugs to specific brain region is challenging.

The authors in this study used focused ultrasound (FUS) combined with nanobubbles to induce a highly localized and reversible opening of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) with significantly enhanced precision.

The authors delivered human-derived anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs) to the lateral habenula and confirmed its retention in the brain for at least 10 d post administration. 

They alleviated depression-like symptoms in a mouse model using this technology.

The authors found no detectable hemorrhage indicating safety and tolerability of FUS-nanobubble-mediated BBB opening.

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2421800122

https://sciencemission.com/focused-ultrasound-alleviates-depression