scholarly journals Quantum Dots Application in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Thrita ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Behnam Hasannejadasl ◽  
Farkhondeh Pooresmaeil Janbaz ◽  
Edris Choupani ◽  
Mahmood Fadaie ◽  
Mohammad Ali Hamidinejad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Quantum Dots ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
High Quantum Yield ◽  
High Emission ◽  
Image Production ◽  
The Brain

: Quantum dots (QDs) are nanoparticles (NPs) with electronic and optical properties such as emitting bright light and fluorescence. They also carry specific characters such as photostability, high quantum yield, high emission, and size-turnable. Nowadays, a great interest is given to the extensive use of theranostic-NPs for sensing and imaging, as well as drug delivery. Moreover, QDs may yield great potential for the diagnosis and treatment of various central nervous system (CNS) diseases (e.g., Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis). The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain tissue. Only certain small molecules like water and gases can cross BBB, whereas larger molecules enter via receptors, but many drugs are incapable of passing the barrier. A series of great advances have been achieved concerning using different NPs (e.g., QDs) to deliver drugs to the brain and CNS imaging. In this review, we discussed a wide variety of QDs along with their production, passive or active delivery of therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases, and different image production.

scholarly journals Cerebral sterile inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kento Otani ◽  
Takashi Shichita
Keyword(s):  
Immune Responses ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Sterile Inflammation ◽  
Cellular Damage ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Abnormal Accumulation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Lateral Sclerosis

AbstractTherapeutic strategies for regulating neuroinflammation are expected in the development of novel therapeutic agents to prevent the progression of central nervous system (CNS) pathologies. An understanding of the detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms of neuroinflammation in each CNS disease is necessary for the development of therapeutics. Since the brain is a sterile organ, neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is triggered by cerebral cellular damage or the abnormal accumulation of inflammatogenic molecules in CNS tissue through the activation of innate and acquired immunity. Inflammation and CNS pathologies worsen each other through various cellular and molecular mechanisms, such as oxidative stress or the accumulation of inflammatogenic molecules induced in the damaged CNS tissue. In this review, we summarize the recent evidence regarding sterile immune responses in neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Isomeric O-methyl cannabidiolquinones with dual BACH1/NRF2 activity

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Casares ◽  
Juan Diego Unciti ◽  
Maria Eugenia Prados ◽  
Diego Caprioglio ◽  
Maureen Higgins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Cell Models ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Anti Oxidant ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
The Brain

ABSTRACTOxidative stress and inflammation in the brain are two key hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and multiple sclerosis. The axis NRF2-BACH1 has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that could be exploited pharmacologically to obtain neuroprotective effects. Activation of NRF2 or inhibition of BACH1 are, individually, promising therapeutic approaches for NDs. Compounds with dual activity as NRF2 activators and BACH1 inhibitors, could therefore potentially provide a more robust antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, with an overall better neuroprotective outcome. The phytocannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD) inhibits BACH1 but lacks significant NRF2 activating properties. Based on this scaffold, we have developed a novel CBD derivative that is highly effective at both inhibiting BACH1 and activating NRF2. This new CBD derivative provides neuroprotection in cell models of relevance to Huntington’s disease, setting the basis for further developments in vivo.

scholarly journals Microglia Specific Drug Targeting Using Natural Products for the Regulation of Redox Imbalance in Neurodegeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shashank Kumar Maurya ◽  
Neetu Bhattacharya ◽  
Suman Mishra ◽  
Amit Bhattacharya ◽  
Pratibha Banerjee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Neuroprotective Effect ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Dual Function ◽  
Redox Imbalance ◽  
The Brain

Microglia, a type of innate immune cell of the brain, regulates neurogenesis, immunological surveillance, redox imbalance, cognitive and behavioral changes under normal and pathological conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Multiple sclerosis and traumatic brain injury. Microglia produces a wide variety of cytokines to maintain homeostasis. It also participates in synaptic pruning and regulation of neurons overproduction by phagocytosis of neural precursor cells. The phenotypes of microglia are regulated by the local microenvironment of neurons and astrocytes via interaction with both soluble and membrane-bound mediators. In case of neuron degeneration as observed in acute or chronic neurodegenerative diseases, microglia gets released from the inhibitory effect of neurons and astrocytes, showing activated phenotype either of its dual function. Microglia shows neuroprotective effect by secreting growths factors to heal neurons and clears cell debris through phagocytosis in case of a moderate stimulus. But the same microglia starts releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines like TNF-α, IFN-γ, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO), increasing neuroinflammation and redox imbalance in the brain under chronic signals. Therefore, pharmacological targeting of microglia would be a promising strategy in the regulation of neuroinflammation, redox imbalance and oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases. Some studies present potentials of natural products like curcumin, resveratrol, cannabidiol, ginsenosides, flavonoids and sulforaphane to suppress activation of microglia. These natural products have also been proposed as effective therapeutics to regulate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The present review article intends to explain the molecular mechanisms and functions of microglia and molecular dynamics of microglia specific genes and proteins like Iba1 and Tmem119 in neurodegeneration. The possible interventions by curcumin, resveratrol, cannabidiol, ginsenosides, flavonoids and sulforaphane on microglia specific protein Iba1 suggest possibility of natural products mediated regulation of microglia phenotypes and its functions to control redox imbalance and neuroinflammation in management of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Multiple Sclerosis for microglia-mediated therapeutics.

scholarly journals Blood-Brain Delivery Methods Using Nanotechnology

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Teleanu ◽  
Cristina Chircov ◽  
Alexandru Grumezescu ◽  
Adrian Volceanov ◽  
Raluca Teleanu
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Drug Development ◽  
Brain Cancer ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Brain Delivery ◽  
Delivery Methods ◽  
Selective Permeability ◽  
Blood Brain ◽  
The Brain

Pathologies of the brain, of which brain cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and multiple sclerosis, are some of the most prevalent, and that presently are poorly treated due to the difficulties associated with drug development, administration, and targeting to the brain. The existence of the blood-brain barrier, a selective permeability system which acts as a local gateway against circulating foreign substances, represents the key challenge for the delivery of therapeutic agents to the brain. However, the development of nanotechnology-based approaches for brain delivery, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, micelles, and carbon nanotubes, might be the solution for improved brain therapies.

scholarly journals Targeting Aggrephagy for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Malampati ◽  
Ju-Xian Song ◽  
Benjamin Chun-Kit Tong ◽  
Anusha Nalluri ◽  
Chuan-Bin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Misfolded Protein ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Progressive Dementia ◽  
The Brain

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in older individuals with specific neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is a proteinopathy, pathologically characterized by the presence of misfolded protein (Aβ and Tau) aggregates in the brain, causing progressive dementia. Increasing studies have provided evidence that the defect in protein-degrading systems, especially the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP), plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Recent studies have demonstrated that AD-associated protein aggregates can be selectively recognized by some receptors and then be degraded by ALP, a process termed aggrephagy. In this study, we reviewed the role of aggrephagy in AD development and discussed the strategy of promoting aggrephagy using small molecules for the treatment of AD.

scholarly journals Dendrimer-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Brain Targeting

Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuefei Zhu ◽  
Chunying Liu ◽  
Zhiqing Pang
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Therapeutic Agents ◽  
Brain Targeting ◽  
Uniform Size ◽  
The Past ◽  
Internal Cavities ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Remarkable Progress

Human neuroscience has made remarkable progress in understanding basic aspects of functional organization; it is a renowned fact that the blood–brain barrier (BBB) impedes the permeation and access of most drugs to central nervous system (CNS) and that many neurological diseases remain undertreated. Therefore, a number of nanocarriers have been designed over the past few decades to deliver drugs to the brain. Among these nanomaterials, dendrimers have procured an enormous attention from scholars because of their nanoscale uniform size, ease of multi-functionalization, and available internal cavities. As hyper-branched 3D macromolecules, dendrimers can be maneuvered to transport diverse therapeutic agents, incorporating small molecules, peptides, and genes; diminishing their cytotoxicity; and improving their efficacy. Herein, the present review will give exhaustive details of extensive researches in the field of dendrimer-based vehicles to deliver drugs through the BBB in a secure and effectual manner. It is also a souvenir in commemorating Donald A. Tomalia on his 80th birthday.

Organic psychoses

2020 ◽  
pp. 6482-6486
Author(s):  
Curtis McKnight ◽  
Jason Caplan
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Antipsychotic Drugs ◽  
Autoimmune Disorders ◽  
Brain Diseases ◽  
Organic Psychosis ◽  
Organic Psychoses ◽  
High Index Of Suspicion ◽  
The Brain

A psychosis is a syndrome characterized by delusions and hallucinations. Organic psychoses refer to those psychoses attributed to identifiable brain diseases andare thereby distinguished from primary psychoses such as schizophrenia. Almost any condition that affects the brain can cause an organic psychosis. Delirium and dementia are the most common, although there are many other causes including other neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis, endocrinopathies, metabolic disorders, and infections. Making the diagnosis of an organic psychosis requires a high index of suspicion and appropriate investigation. The treatment is usually that of the primary disease when that is possible, while the symptoms of psychosis can be managed using antipsychotic drugs.

scholarly journals NAT8L mRNA oxidation is linked to neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakash Kharel ◽  
Naveen Kumar Singhal ◽  
Nicole West ◽  
Joram Rana ◽  
Lindsey Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Aspartic Acid ◽  
Neuronal Cells ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Rna Oxidation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Aspartate Transferase ◽  
Cognate Protein

AbstractRNA oxidation has been implicated in neurodegeneration, but the underlying mechanism for such effects is unclear. Recently, we demonstrated extensive RNA oxidation within the neurons in multiple sclerosis (MS) brain. In this report we identified selectively oxidized mRNAs in neuronal cells that pertained to neuropathological pathways. N-acetyl aspartate transferase 8 like (NAT8L) mRNA is one such transcript, whose translated product enzymatically synthesizes N-acetyl aspartic acid (NAA), a neuronal metabolite important for myelin synthesis. We reasoned that impediment of translation of an oxidized NAT8L mRNA will result in reduction in its cognate protein, thus lowering NAA level. This assertion is directly supported by our studies on a model cellular system, an MS animal model and postmortem human MS brain. Reduced NAA level in the brain hampers myelin integrity making neuronal axons more susceptible to damage, which contributes in MS neurodegeneration. Overall, this work provides a framework for mechanistic understanding of the link between RNA oxidation and neurodegenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Metal Imbalance in Neurodegenerative Diseases with a Specific Concern to the Brain of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 9105
Author(s):  
Jean-Philippe Dales ◽  
Sophie Desplat-Jégo
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Chronic Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Autoimmune Reaction ◽  
Candidate Drug ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis Patients ◽  
The Brain

There is increasing evidence that deregulation of metals contributes to a vast range of neurodegenerative diseases including multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS) manifesting disability and neurological symptoms. The precise origin of MS is unknown, but the disease is characterized by focal inflammatory lesions in the CNS associated with an autoimmune reaction against myelin. The treatment of this disease has mainly been based on the prescription of immunosuppressive and immune-modulating agents. However, the rate of progressive disability and early mortality is still worrisome. Metals may represent new diagnostic and predictive markers of severity and disability as well as innovative candidate drug targets for future therapies. In this review, we describe the recent advances in our understanding on the role of metals in brain disorders of neurodegenerative diseases and MS patients.

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