Business Daily Media

Men's Weekly

.

HKBU-led research develops novel drug delivery system for Gouteng compound for Alzheimer’s disease treatment

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 December 2023 - A research team led by Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) has developed a novel drug delivery system for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The researchers have engineered exosomes, extracellular vesicles released by cells, to effectively carry the bioactive compound Corynoxine-B extracted from the Chinese herbal medicine Gouteng to the brain of mice with AD. As Corynoxine-B can induce autophagy, a process that maintains the health of cells, this new drug delivery system using exosomes can improve cognitive function and movement while reducing the symptoms of AD.

The research findings have been published in the international academic journal Nature-Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy.

Bioactive compound of Gouteng can treat AD

AD is the most common type of dementia in which the brain cells degenerate and die, characterised by a build-up of amyloid-beta and phospho-tau protein in the brain, resulting in the decline of the brain's cognitive functions. Currently more than 55 million people worldwide are dementia patients. In Hong Kong more than 100,000 elderly suffer from dementia and the number is anticipated to soar to more than 330,000 by 2039.

At present there is no curative treatment for AD. Available treatments can only delay the disease's progression and improve symptoms. HKBU's previous research projects found that Corynoxine-B, a bioactive compound of Gouteng, is effective in treating AD. However, the blood-brain barrier which protects the brain from potentially harmful substances in the bloodstream affects its uptake in brain.

Exosomes serve as drug carriers

To tackle this problem, a research team comprising Professor Li Min, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) of Chinese Medicine, and Dr Ashok Iyaswamy, Research Assistant Professor of the Teaching and Research Division at the School of Chinese Medicine at HKBU, along with other local, mainland and overseas scientists, have developed a novel approach to deliver Corynoxine-B to the brain using exosomes.

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles released by cells which can transport molecules between cells like nanocarriers. Recent studies have shown that they could be utilised as vehicles for drug delivery. To examine whether exosomes are effective drug carriers for AD, the researchers manipulated the neuronal cells in mice to overexpress an adaptor protein Fe65 on the surface of exosomes released by these cells. Fe65 is involved in the processing of amyloid-beta precursor protein (APP), which plays a crucial role in the development of AD.

By doing so, they observed more exosomes containing Fe65 were released by the neuronal cells. These engineered exosomes showed a good ability to migrate towards the neuronal cells with APP overexpressed in AD models. These findings suggest that the presence of Fe65 on the surface of exosomes enhanced their ability to specifically target and interact with the neuronal cells with elevated levels of APP, which is a characteristic feature of AD.

Reduction of accumulated amyloid-beta protein

Corynoxine-B is a natural inducer of autophagy which plays a crucial role in maintaining neuronal health. The research team loaded it into the engineered exosomes and injected it to the mice with AD to evaluate its potential as a therapeutic agent for the disease. Results show that engineered exosomes loaded with Corynoxine-B could enhance autophagy in mice, and were able to cross the blood-brain barrier to deliver Corynoxine-B to the brain, resulting in a 30% reduction of accumulated amyloid-beta protein.

In addition, various behavioural tests including the rotarod test, open field test, contextual fear conditioning test, and Morris's water maze test conducted on mice with AD showed that the application of engineered exosomes loaded with Corynoxine-B resulted in 25% recovery of the cognitive and locomotor behaviour.

Professor Li Min said: "Our study suggests that exosomes could be a promising new way to deliver drugs to the brain and treat AD. More research is needed, but this study provides hope that a cure for AD may be possible in the future. We hope that this research project will ultimately be beneficial to the elderly, individuals at high risk of neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative disease patients."

Hashtag: #Alzheimer'sdisease

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

News from Asia

Rhenus 4PL Solutions Brings Digital Logistics Expertise Support To The Circular Economy Initiative Of Looper Textile Co. And REMONDIS

Circular textiles at industrial scale: Looper Textile Co. collects, sorts and processes up to 150 million garments annually for reuse and recycling. Digital coordination by Rhenus...

ISCA and SHICPA Sign MOU to Strengthen Support for Accountancy Professionals and Firms in Shanghai

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 8 July 2025 - The Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) and the Shanghai Institute of Certified Public Accountants (SHICPA) have signed a Memora...

Proscenic Launches Major Prime Day 2025 Sale with Up to 40% Off Best-Selling Vacuums Starting at €89

SHENZHEN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 8 July 2025 - Smart home innovator Proscenic is kicking off Prime Day 2025 with one of its biggest sales yet, offering up to 40% off its top-rated vacuu...

Arrow Electronics Launches Engineering Solutions Center to Support Tech Innovation Across India and Southeast Asia

BANGALORE, INDIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 July 2025 - Arrow Electronics, a global provider of technology solutions, today announced the launch of its new Engineering Solutions Center(ESC) in ...

XIXILI Introduces Jelly Padded Bras: A Game-Changer in Everyday Comfort

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 July 2025 - Renowned for empowering women through inclusivity and thoughtful design, XIXILI announces the arrival of its latest bra collection:...

Jurassic World: The Experience Roars Into Bangkok - 8 August 2025 At Asiatique The Riverfront Destination

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 July 2025 - Asset World Corporation (AWC), Thailand's leading integrated lifestyle real estate group, together with NEON and Universal Destinations ...

Health2Sync and Novo Nordisk Pharma Korea, Ltd. Launch Smart Cap Mallya® for FlexTouch® Insulin Pens Integration in South Korea, Enhancing insulin administration via Digital Diabetes Care

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 July 2025 - Health2Sync, Asia's leading digital chronic disease management platform, announced the successful integration of Smart Cap Mallya® for ...

E-commerce Platform Wildberries Pilots Its Own Taxi Service

MINSK, BELARUS - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 July 2025 - Wildberries, a leading e-commerce platform in Eurasia, has begun testing its own ride-hailing service in Belarus. The company expects the n...

DYXnet Awarded ISO/IEC 42001 AI Management System Certification by SGS

Leading the New Era of AI in Hong Kong's Telecommunications Industry HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 July 2025 - DYXnet, a wholly-owned subsidiary of VNET Group, Inc...

Prince Foundation Extends Support for Children’s Healthcare in Cambodia Through Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation, Reflecting Commitment Guided by Neak Oknha Chen Zhi

PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 July 2025 - Prince Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Prince Holding Group under the leadership of Neak Oknha Chen Zhi, has reaffirmed its ong...

How to ensure your manufacturing business survives international tariff turmoil

Optimising your operations in FY2026 will help you combat the challenges of a volatile trading environment. Up, down, in out…Since the commence...

Why Apptio is Enhancing Visibility into AI and Hybrid Cloud

AI investments have become a strategic priority for business with the mindset that if you're not using AI, you're falling behind. But according to...

Beyond borders: Building a scalable strategy for international hiring

For many Australian businesses, growth increasingly depends on thinking beyond local borders.  As wage pressures rise, and specialised talent pool...

The Next Generation of Maritime Sustainable Solutions

As organizations globally seek innovative ways to improve sustainability and their impact on Earth, the American Waterways Operators (AWO), a lead...

Demand for Home Batteries surges as Federal Rebate Kicks In

A leading provider of energy solutions VoltX Energy has seen a 400% increase in demand for home batteries in the past three weeks as people put d...

Why Sport Remains the Safest Bet in an Uncertain World

When Rome was in crisis, its leaders did not retreat to the Senate. They went to the circus. To the chariot races. To the gladiators. Sport was no...

Sell by LayBy