(March 25, 2015) Magnetic
nanoparticles can open the blood-brain barrier and deliver molecules directly
to the brain, say researchers from the University of Montreal, Polytechnique
Montréal, and CHU Sainte-Justine. This barrier runs inside almost all vessels
in the brain and protects it from elements circulating in the blood that may be
toxic to the brain. The research is important as currently 98% of therapeutic
molecules are also unable to cross the blood-brain barrier.