NTS-Polyplex: A potential nanocarrier for neurotrophic therapy of Parkinson's disease

Daniel Martinez-Fong, Michael J. Bannon, Louis Eric Trudeau, Juan A. Gonzalez-Barrios, Martha L. Arango-Rodriguez, Nancy G. Hernandez-Chan, David Reyes-Corona, Juan Armendáriz-Borunda, Ivan Navarro-Quiroga

Research output: Articles / NotesArticle in a non-specialized journalpeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nanomedicine has focused on targeted neurotrophic gene delivery to the brain as a strategy to stop and reverse neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. Because of improved transfection ability, synthetic nanocarriers have become candidates for neurotrophic therapy. Neurotensin (NTS)-polyplex is a "Trojan horse" synthetic nanocarrier system that enters dopaminergic neurons through NTS receptor internalization to deliver a genetic cargo. The success of preclinical studies with different neurotrophic genes supports the possibility of using NTS-polyplex in nanomedicine. In this review, we describe the mechanism of NTS-polyplex transfection. We discuss the concept that an effective neurotrophic therapy requires a simultaneous effect on the axon terminals and soma of the remaining dopaminergic neurons. We also discuss the future of this strategy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. From the Clinical Editor: This review paper focuses on nanomedicine-based treatment of Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative condition with existing symptomatic but no curative treatment. Neurotensin-polyplex is a synthetic nanocarrier system that enables delivery of genetic cargo to dopaminergic neurons via NTS receptor internalization.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1052-1069
Number of pages18
JournalNanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine
Volume8
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Neurodegeneration
  • Neuroprotection
  • Neurorestoration
  • Regeneration
  • Survival

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