The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is the body’s most vital line of defense and, at the same time, is also one of modern medicine’s most significant challenges. It protects the brain from pathogens, toxins, and foreign particles, yet also blocks many of the therapeutics that could save lives.

The blood-brain barrier is impermeable to all large molecules, including antibodies and an estimated 98% of drugs. While breakthrough therapies are transforming healthcare in other parts of the body, the brain remains largely untouched.

A Mission Impossible – For Now

More than 450 million people worldwide suffer from neurological disorders, from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to brain tumors, epilepsy, and degenerative diseases. In most cases, even the most advanced treatments that work elsewhere in the body are ineffective here, not because they are ineffective, but because they fail to reach their target.

The blood-brain barrier is a dense biological structure made up of tightly packed endothelial cells – the cells that line the inside of blood vessels – that selectively regulate what enters brain tissue from the bloodstream. Only small, fat-soluble molecules, or those that carry dedicated transporters, can pass through – and even then, in a limited fashion.

In recent years, the scientific-medical world has explored a range of creative strategies: biological carriers, the development of “disguised” molecules, ultrasound, and even attempts to circumvent the barrier via the nasal cavity or through invasive surgery. Most of these remain experimental and face serious safety and precision drawbacks.

Engineered Gold Nanoparticles That Can Penetrate the BBB

This is the challenge that Nanocarry, an Israeli startup, has taken up with its ambitious technology: engineered gold nanoparticles with a unique structure that can carry multiple copies of diverse therapeutics (antibodies, proteins, or small molecules) and cross the blood-brain barrier safely and with precision.

The company was founded in 2021 by three women: Prof. Rachela Popovtzer, one of the world’s leading experts in gold nanoparticle research; Dr. Oshra Betzer, who transitioned from high-tech into the world of neuro-engineering; and Dr. Revital Mandil-Levin, an experienced business developer and pharma executive who led business development at NeuroDerm, from its IPO on the NASDAQ until its acquisition by Mitsubishi Tanabe in a deal worth approximately USD 1.1 billion.

“Our goal isn’t just to reach the brain,” explains Dr. Mandil-Levin, “but to reach the right region of the brain, with the right drug, in the right concentration and at the right time. We aim to do all this without disrupting the barrier, without damaging it, and without introducing harmful substances into the system.”

Nanocarry’s AxS platform is based on engineered gold nanoparticles that utilize the vast surface area of nanometric particles. This property enables the attachment of numerous different molecules via a simple, fast, and reliable chemical process. Each nanoparticle is linked to an insulin molecule, which acts as a “Trojan horse,” enabling the drug to cross the blood-brain........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)