Dr Charles Sennoga

From

Imperial College of London - UK

In residence at

Imaging and Brain laboratory (iBrain), INSERM / University of Tours - FR​

Host scientist

Dr Ayache Bouakaz

PROJECT

Targeted drug delivery to brain

Despite the synthesis and development of novel and potentially efficient drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, only a few of these molecules reach the phase of development and clinical approval. The main limitation lies in their incapacity to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and the absence of targeted delivery in the treated organ, the brain. Hence there is a major issue today in studying the basics of blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability and modifications associated with the various cerebral pathologies. Indeed, the BBB is a diffusion barrier, which impedes influx of most compounds from blood to the brain, including toxic compounds (e.g., bacteria, toxins, etc) and therapeutic substances.

The BBB represents a major research area in the central nervous system pathologies. This project aims to develop a safe and efficient method to transiently disrupt the BBB. The method will be based on the combination of ultrasound waves and targeted microbubbles.

The project has three main objectives:

• design of targeted microbubbles that recognize the BBB receptors as the targeted structure
• develop a therapeutic complex, based on drug-loaded targeted microbubbles, for the treatment of neurological diseases
• in vitro evaluation of the targeted complex. We believe that with targeted microbubbles that bind specifically to the BBB, this ultrasound based technology would provide a safer, controllable and a more efficient therapeutic efficacy for BBB opening and neurological diseases treatments