NGF combined with a cell-penetrating peptide delivered via eye drops showed enhanced neuroprotective activity, offering a non-invasive route for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Eye drops to brainCPP-conjugated NGF delivered as eye drops reaches the brain via the eye-brain connection, providing non-invasive neuroprotection
What the researchers found
CPP-conjugated NGF delivered ophthalmically showed enhanced neuroprotective activity compared to NGF alone, leveraging the eye-brain connection for non-invasive brain drug delivery.
Why it matters
Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's have no cure. Eye drops that deliver neuroprotective proteins to the brain via peptide technology could make treatment accessible and non-invasive.
The numbers in context
L-PenetraMax significantly enhanced NGF delivery efficiency to the optic nerve through topical ophthalmic administration.
How the study worked
Combined NGF with cell-penetrating peptide. Formulated as ophthalmic delivery. Assessed ocular penetration, brain delivery, and neuroprotective activity.
Who was studied
Optic nerve injury models treated with CPP-conjugated NGF eye drops
What this study cannot tell us
Preclinical study. The amount of NGF reaching the brain via eye drops may be limited. Long-term safety of repeated CPP-protein eye administration needs evaluation.
How to read the evidence
Preliminary evidence: preclinical proof-of-concept for CPP-enhanced ophthalmic neuroprotective delivery.
When this study was published
Published in 2024. Explores a novel delivery route for brain-targeted peptide therapy.
The bigger picture
The eye-brain connection (via the optic nerve and associated pathways) is an emerging route for brain drug delivery that bypasses the blood-brain barrier. Combining this route with cell-penetrating peptides could enable eye drop delivery of proteins and peptides for brain diseases.
Questions still open
- Could CPP-NGF eye drops slow progression of Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease?
- What percentage of the NGF dose reaches the brain via ophthalmic delivery?
- Can other neuroprotective proteins be delivered using this CPP-eye drop approach?
Common questions
Can eye drops deliver drugs to the brain?
What is nerve growth factor?
Read the original research
Enhanced neuroprotective activity of ophthalmic delivered nerve growth factor conjugated with cell penetrating peptide against optic nerve injury.
Journal of drug targeting, 32(1), 93-99
Citation
Zhu, Danni; Li, Yao; Zhang, Jinlong; Chen, Yi; Song, Xiaohong; Chen, Wei; Wu, Shipo; Hou, Lihua. (2024). Enhanced neuroprotective activity of ophthalmic delivered nerve growth factor conjugated with cell penetrating peptide against optic nerve injury.. Journal of drug targeting, 32(1), 93-99. https://doi.org/10.1080/1061186X.2023.2295220