University of South Carolina researchers develop nanoparticles to regenerate neurons

Researchers at the University of South Carolina have developed a nanogel system called ‘Nano-ERASER’ designed to regenerate neurons lost to Alzheimer's disease. The study, published in Cell Biomaterials, demonstrates the ability to convert astrocytes—support cells in the central nervous system—into functional neurons.

The Nano-ERASER system acts as a vehicle to transport an antibody across the blood-brain barrier. Once it reaches the astrocytes, the antibody targets and degrades the PTBP1 protein using a cellular mechanism known as ‘Trim-Away’. This degradation triggers molecular changes that allow the astrocytes to adopt a neuronal identity.

Testing conducted on human brain organoids and Alzheimer's mouse models showed that the treatment helped restore memory and learning capabilities. While these results are promising for future neurodegenerative disease therapies, the technology is not yet ready for human clinical application.