New Technique Uses Acoustic Pressure to Penetrate Blood-brain Barrier

In a recent study published in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism, researchers from Columbia Engineering demonstrated for the first time that the size of molecules penetrating the blood-brain barrier can be controlled using acoustic pressure — the pressure of an ultrasound beam — to let specific molecules through. “This is an important breakthrough in getting rugs delivered to specific parts of the brain precisely, non-invasively, and safely, and may help in the treatment of central nervous system diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s,” said the lead author of the study. Most small — and all large — molecule drugs do not currently penetrate the blood-brain barrier that sits between the vascular bed and the brain tissue. As a result, all central nervous system diseases remain undertreated at best. During the study, researchers targeted the hippocampus and demonstrated that the pressure of an ultrasound beam can be adjusted depending on the size of the drug that needs to be delivered to the brain. Using this technique, researchers were able to penetrate the opened barrier, but at distinct pressures — small molecules at lower pressure and larger molecules at higher pressure. To read more about this study, click here.