Dopamine stabilized in ultra-nanoreservoirs for controlled delivery in parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to impaired dopamine (DA) signaling and motor control. Intermittent dosing of current DA precursors results in side effects, prompting research into controlled drug release mechanisms for sustained and targeted delivery of DA.

In this work, we stabilized DA within a nanostructured silicate matrix (nanoreservoir) using the sol-gel method. We examined the physicochemical properties, kinetics of drug release, and biocompatibility in dopaminergic neurons and fibroblasts.

The optimized synthesis method allowed for the stabilization of DA by preventing its oxidation. The physicochemical and controlled release analysis showed a direct relationship between the mesoporous structure, interaction of the DA with the matrix, and the release kinetics followed, proving the possibility to modify the rate of release by adjusting the synthesis parameters. Furthermore, the nanoreservoirs were biocompatible with dopaminergic neurons and fibroblasts in vitro.

The research sets the stage for potential in vivo evaluations and new strategies for managing PD, offering hope for improved treatments based on DA and not derivatives.