The concept jointly developed by researchers at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Medical and Dental University and others is based on physiologically safe nanoparticles of 30 nm diameter (a PEG-poly(α,β-aspartic acid) block copolymer with conjugated glucose) which are loaded with glucose) recognized by the GLUT1 transporter localized in cerebrovascular endothelial cells. The uptake by this transporter responds to changes in glucose concentration and thus can be activated by a glycaemic stimulus. Using intravenous administration of Cy5-labelled nanoparticles to fasting mice and a glucose solution 30 min later, it was shown that about 6% of a dose accumulated in the brain – 100times more compared to glucose-free nanoparticles. It is expected that these nanocarriers can now be loaded with drugs such as donezepil, used in Alzheimer treatment, with antibodies and nucleic acid drugs
JST news release, October 19, 2017