Researchers Innovate a Treatment That Opens New Horizons for Healing Mental Illnesses, Including Alzheimer’s

SadaNews - Researchers have developed a new nanotechnology that uses tiny gold particles as therapeutic carriers to deliver lithium directly to the brain in the form of a nasal spray, opening promising avenues for the treatment and prevention of mental and neurodegenerative disorders such as bipolar disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.

Lithium has been used for decades to treat some mental disorders, but its oral use is limited due to a narrow therapeutic margin and side effects that may affect the kidneys and thyroid gland.

Thus, researchers sought to find a way to deliver it directly to the brain at low concentrations without passing through the bloodstream, which reduces the likelihood of side effects and maintains its efficacy.

The study was conducted by researchers from the Catholic University in Italy and the Polyclinical University Hospital in collaboration with the University of Salerno in Italy, and the results were published in the journal Advanced Materials on September 29, and have received a patent, as reported by the website EurekAlert.

This approach targets a key enzyme known as glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β), which plays a crucial role in many cellular processes and affects more than 100 proteins within the cell.

When this enzyme is hyperactive, it disrupts important proteins, contributing to the emergence of neurological and psychiatric diseases. Lithium is considered a strong inhibitor of this enzyme, but achieving the required therapeutic concentration in the brain through oral tablets necessitates high doses that exceed safe limits.

For this reason, the research team worked on delivering lithium directly to the brain via gold nanoparticles through the nasal route.

Lithium and Access to the Brain

Dr. Antonio Bonierba from the Department of Chemistry and Biology at the University of Salerno and a co-researcher on this study explains: "Gold nanoparticles are an ideal tool for this strategy, as they can be modified with glutathione, which facilitates their entry into cells and binds lithium ions. Once inside, the particles break down and release lithium within the cell, allowing effective therapeutic concentrations at low doses."

Dr. Roberto Biasentini from the Department of Neuroscience at the Catholic University and a co-researcher on this study elaborates: "Nasal administration is an ideal route for direct access to the brain and avoiding systemic distribution, thereby increasing safety. Additionally, gold is an inert and biocompatible metal that is excreted via the kidneys without accumulating in the brain with repeated use."

The technique was tested on mice with Alzheimer’s disease, where the treatment showed a marked improvement in memory and behavior, without significant side effects.

Dr. Giulia Poliati from the Department of Neuroscience at the Catholic University, a co-researcher on the study, states: "We demonstrated that administering lithium-loaded gold nanoparticles for five days inhibits glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta in the hippocampus, and repeating the treatment for two months led to significant improvements in memory at both behavioral and molecular levels."

Experiments also showed that this treatment regulates the activity of the targeted enzyme in the brain without increasing lithium levels in the blood, even with long-term use, confirming the safety of the new technology.

Dr. Claudio Grassi from the Department of Neuroscience at the Catholic University and a co-researcher on this study remarks: "These nanoparticles can be easily manufactured, simplifying the production process and reducing costs, paving the way for the commercialization of this product in the near future."

Researchers believe this technology could lead to a breakthrough in treating mental and neurodegenerative diseases through more precise and safer drugs targeted directly at the brain.

Source: EurekAlert