Multidisciplinary perspectives for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases: hydrogels for protein delivery and cell-based drug delivery as therapeutic strategies.
This review presents two intriguing multidisciplinary strategies that might make the difference in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The first proposed strategy is based on the controlled delivery of recombinant proteins known to play a key role in these neurodegenerative disorders that are released in situ by optimized polymer-based systems. The second strategy is the use of engineered cells, encapsulated and delivered in situ by suitable polymer-based systems, that act as drug reservoirs and allow the delivery of selected molecules to be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. In both these scenarios, the design and development of optimized polymer-based drug delivery and cell housing systems for central nervous system applications represent a key requirement. Materials science provides suitable hydrogel-based tools to be optimized together with suitably designed recombinant proteins or drug delivering-cells that, once in situ, can provide an effective treatment for these neurodegenerative disorders. In this scenario, only interdisciplinary research that fully integrates biology, biochemistry, medicine and materials science can provide a springboard for the development of suitable therapeutic tools, not only for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases but also, prospectively, for a wide range of severe neurodegenerative disorders.
Giordano
Carmen
C
Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "G. Natta", Politecnico di Milano, Via Luigi Mancinelli, 7, 20131 Milan, Italy. carmen.giordano@polimi.it
Albani
Diego
D
Gloria
Antonio
A
Tunesi
Marta
M
Batelli
Sara
S
Russo
Teresa
T
Forloni
Gianluigi
G
Ambrosio
Luigi
L
Cigada
Alberto
A
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000096:biosynthesis
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins