Myelin nanovesicles to contrast neurodegenerative diseases

Challenge

Counteracting demyelinating and neuroinflammatory diseases.

Technology

Myelin nanovesicles that can be relevant for myelin repair, as a brain drug delivery system and for immune tolerance effect.

Commercial Opportunity

This technology is based on multiple potentials that, in a single or synergistic way, could lead to the identification of an innovative therapeutic approach against demyelinating and neuroinflammatory diseases. In the world, there are more than 2.2 million people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) determining a high socio-economic impact for patients, for families, and for the national health system. The extrapolated data provided an estimated annual direct cost per patient of about 20,000 euros. Considering also the indirect costs, this value can increase up to triple according to the severity/disability level of the disease. To date, the market for drugs for MS has reached exorbitant figures, reaching 500 million euros in 2017 alone in Italy. The main reference market is, therefore, the pharmaceutical one, and thanks to the convergence between technology and health, and ever-deeper penetration of new treatment models and biological drugs based on cellular, subcellular, and vesicle therapies is expected.

Development Status

We propose, for the first time, the bio-fabrication of Myelin-based nanoVesicles (MyVes) with an easy, scalable, efficient, economical, and reproducible production protocol. The MyVes produced have an average diameter of 100–150 ​nm, negative zeta potential (−37mV), spheroidal morphology, lipids, and main proteins of the myelin sheath and show good cytocompatibility. Furthermore, we provide proof of concept of the potential suitability for brain targeting of these novel carriers. In fact, due to their biophysical and biological properties, MyVes cross an in vitro blood brain barrier model, reach a specific brain region, the white matter, and interact with microglia cells. For these reasons, we propose MyVes as a potential tool to counteract white matter-related microglial diseases, such as MS. (Picone et al., Mater Today Bio. 2021 Oct 7;12:100146). However, this work proposes the first basis and future investigations and optimizations, through in vivo studies, are needed to evaluate their effective potential.

The current TRL of the technology is 4, we expect, after in vivo and ex-vivo experimentation on immune cells from MS patients, to be able to reach a TLR 6/7.

Patent Situation

An Italian patent application and an International patent application (PCT/IB2021/054046) have been filed.

Further Reading

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