Cywinska, Aleksandra (2020) Exosomes in the brain – from diagnostics to therapeutic potential. Master's Thesis / Essay, Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences.
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Abstract
Efficient delivery of drugs to the brain poses many challenges, mostly due to the special characteristics of the blood-brain barrier which prevents most therapeutics from reaching their target. Additionally, accurate diagnosis of many neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders is often difficult and clear biomarkers are missing. Nanoparticles which have recently gained attention for their potential use in these areas are exosomes – small biomimetic nanovesicles which resemble the protein content of their parent cell, and play an important role in intercellular communication. In this review their special characteristics, both for diagnostics and therapeutics, will be discussed. These include immunocompatibility, natural organotropism and the ability to cross the BBB. Being a natural RNA carrier, exosomes were shown to successfully deliver gene therapy in animal models of neurodegenerative disorders and brain tumours. They also show intrinsic therapeutic properties due to their role in communication and neuronal protection. First clinical trials with exosomes as the drugs for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders are currently taking place. Moreover, their ubiquitous presence in many bodily fluids, combined with their role in spreading misfolded protein aggregates and other pathologies, makes them a good potential diagnostic tool. Remaining challenges concerning exosomes discussed in this review include the need for improved isolation methods, production yield and purity
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Zuhorn, I.S. |
| Degree programme: | Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences |
| Thesis type: | Master's Thesis / Essay |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 09 Mar 2021 10:37 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Mar 2021 10:37 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/24054 |
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