Nanoparticle delivery compositions
AssigneeMidatech Limited
InventorsThomas Rademacher, David K. Male
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Abstract
Nanoparticle delivery systems for use in targeting biologically active agents to the central nervous system comprise a composition comprising (a) a nanoparticle comprising: (i) a core comprising a metal and/or a semiconductor; and (ii) a corona comprising a plurality of ligands covalently linked to the core, wherein said ligands comprise a carbohydrate, insulin and/or a glutathione; and (b) the at least one agent to be delivered to the CNS. Methods of treatment and diagnosing CNS disorders utilising the nanoparticle delivery systems and related screening methods are also disclosed.
Claims34
A method for delivering at least one agent to the central nervous system (CNS) of a mammalian subject, said method comprising administering a composition to the subject, said composition comprising:
- (a) a nanoparticle comprising:
- (i) a core comprising a metal and/or a semiconductor;
- (ii) a corona comprising a plurality of ligands covalently linked to the core, wherein said ligands comprise a carbohydrate, insulin and/or a glutathione;
- and
- (b) the at least one agent to be delivered to the CNS.
An in vitro screening method for identifying agents that are capable of being delivered across the blood-brain barrier to the central nervous system of a mammalian subject by association with a nanoparticle, said method comprising:
- providing a cell culture endothelium, optionally co-cultured with astrocytes;
- contacting the endothelium with a nanoparticle having associated with it at least one candidate agent;
- and
- identifying whether the candidate agent is delivered across the endothelium by the nanoparticle,
- wherein said nanoparticle comprises:
- (i) a core comprising a metal and/or a semiconductor;
- and
- (ii) a corona comprising a plurality of ligands covalently linked to the core, wherein said ligands comprise a carbohydrate, insulin and/or a glutathione.
An in vivo screening method for identifying agents that are capable of being delivered across the blood-brain barrier to the central nervous system (CNS) of a mammalian subject by association with a nanoparticle, said method comprising:
- administering to a non-human mammalian test subject via a non-central route of administration a composition comprising a nanoparticle having associated with it at least one candidate agent;
- and
- identifying whether the candidate agent is delivered across the blood-brain barrier to the CNS of said test subject,
- wherein said nanoparticle comprises:
- (i) a core comprising a metal and/or a semiconductor;
- and
- (ii) a corona comprising a plurality of ligands covalently linked to the core, wherein said ligands comprise a carbohydrate, insulin and/or a glutathione.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.