Recently, Professor Chang Jin from the School of Life Sciences at Tianjin University collaborated with Associate Researcher Dou Yan from Tianjin Medical University General Hospital to successfully develop nanomedicine specifically targeted at female Alzheimer's disease patients, offering promising prospects for personalized treatment for women. The related findings have been published in the prestigious international journal "Nano Today."
Alzheimer's disease is a common neurodegenerative disorder, typically characterized by progressive deterioration of memory and cognitive function. Currently, there are millions of Alzheimer's patients worldwide. Studies have shown significant gender differences in the development of this disease, with it being more prevalent in females, who also experience a 2 to 3 times higher progression and mortality rate compared to males.
What contributes to the susceptibility of females to Alzheimer's disease? Research indicates that the significant decrease in estrogen levels after menopause in women may be a contributing factor to increased risk of developing the disease. Estrogen plays a crucial role in protecting the central nervous system in females, promoting neuronal growth and differentiation, and maintaining oxidative-reductive balance in the brain in conjunction with specific estrogen receptors. Once women enter menopause, the absence of this important central nervous system "guardian" estrogen for an extended period promotes neurodegenerative changes, accelerating cognitive decline. Currently, there are no treatment methods specifically tailored for female Alzheimer's patients.
In this study, the research team, for the first time, developed a multifunctional nanomedicine based on plant-derived estrogenic compound glycyrrhetinic acid, achieving specific treatment for postmenopausal female Alzheimer's disease. This nanomedicine can activate to a certain extent the neuroprotective signaling pathways mediated by specific estrogen receptors, significantly ameliorating oxidative stress, cholinergic abnormalities, neuronal damage, and synaptic dysfunction caused by estrogen deficiency.
Animal experiment results demonstrate that this nanomedicine can enhance the anti-apoptotic signal cascade in ovariectomized Alzheimer's disease model mice while inhibiting neuronal oxidative damage and cholinergic dysfunction. Through intranasal administration for effective delivery to the brain, this nanomedicine effectively alleviates severe cognitive dysfunction in ovariectomized Alzheimer's disease model mice. This study provides new strategies and insights for the treatment of female-specific Alzheimer's disease, offering hope for personalized treatment for female patients.
"Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis is complex. We have currently developed a series of 9 nanomedicines targeting Alzheimer's disease, published 8 high-level academic papers, obtained 4 authorized national invention patents, and disclosed 1 PCT international patent. We are also in discussions with pharmaceutical companies to screen more precise nanomedicines for preclinical studies," according to Professor Chang Jin. "In the future, developing more precise drug delivery methods is particularly important, as this will facilitate maximizing therapeutic efficacy, which is also our next focus. We strive to lay a solid foundation for the true application of nanomedicines in patient treatment."
Related Paper Link: DOI: 10.1016/j.nantod.2023.102119
