In the ORF programme "Mayrs Magazin - Wissen für alle", an unusual approach to targeted drug delivery into the brain was presented: Animal toxins could serve as tools to cross the blood-brain barrier in a controlled manner. In addition to researchers from the University of Vienna, Winfried Neuhaus, Principal Scientist at the Molecular Diagnostic Team of the AIT Center for Health and Bioresources, also has his say. He explains how natural peptides from animal toxins could help in the development of new drug transporters.
The blood-brain barrier reliably protects our brain from unwanted substances. At the same time, it blocks around 98 % of all potential active substances, which makes the treatment of numerous neurological diseases more difficult. A working group led by chemist Markus Muttenthaler from the University of Vienna, a co-operation partner of the AIT, is researching poisonous animals such as spiders and cone snails. The resulting peptides have the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. This natural mechanism could be used in future to transport drugs safely and specifically into the brain.
Winfried Neuhaus explains in the programme that the body's own transporters at the blood-brain barrier can be cleverly used. The AIT researcher believes that the wide variety of peptides from animal toxins makes it possible to find precisely those molecules that ensure the efficient and safe transfer of active substances. Neuhaus and his team are working as part of the Molecular Diagnostics Unit on biological barriers and developing realistic in-vitro models. The aim is to better understand the mechanisms of substance transport at the blood-brain barrier in order to enable new therapeutic approaches for neurological diseases in the future.
If the knowledge gained proves successful in clinical application, this will open up new avenues for more targeted and gentler treatment of brain diseases. Research at the AIT is helping to pave the way from basic research to application-ready solutions.
Link to the ORF report: https://orf.at/av/video/onDemandVideo3836 (in German)