Albumin nanoparticles targeted with Apo E enter the CNS by transcytosis and are delivered to neurones
Zensi A, Begley D, Pontikis C, Legros C, Mihoreanu L, Wagner S, Büchel C, von Briesen H et al.. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society, 2009-03-11
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a considerable obstacle to brain entry of the majority of drugs and thus severely restricts the therapy of many serious CNS diseases including brain tumours, brain HIV, Alzheimer and other neurodegenerative diseases. The use of nanoparticles coated with polysorbate 80 or with attached apolipoprotein E has enabled the delivery of drugs across the BBB. However, the mechanism of this enhanced transport is still not fully understood. In this present study, human serum albumin nanoparticles, with covalently bound apolipoprotein E (Apo E) as a targetor as well as without apolipoprotein E, were manufactured and injected intravenously into SV 129 mice. The animals were sacrificed after 15 and 30 min, and their brains were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Only the nanoparticles with covalently bound apolipoprotein E were detected in brain capillary endothelial cells and neurones, whereas no uptake into the brain was detectable with nanoparticles without apolipoprotein E. We have also demonstrated uptake of the albumin/ApoE nanoparticles into mouse endothelial (b.End3) cells in vitro and their intracellular localisation. These findings indicate that nanoparticles with covalently bound apolipoprotein E are taken up into the cerebral endothelium by an endocytic mechanism followed by transcytosis into brain parenchyma.
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APA 7th
Zensi, A., Begley, D., Pontikis, C., Legros, C., Mihoreanu, L., Wagner, S., et al. (2009). Albumin nanoparticles targeted with Apo E enter the CNS by transcytosis and are delivered to neurones. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2009.03.002
Vancouver
Zensi A, Begley D, Pontikis C, Legros C, Mihoreanu L, Wagner S, et al. Albumin nanoparticles targeted with Apo E enter the CNS by transcytosis and are delivered to neurones. Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society. 2009. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2009.03.002. PMID: 19285109.
BibTeX
@article{zensi2009-19285109,
author = {Zensi, A. and Begley, D. and Pontikis, C. and Legros, C. and Mihoreanu, L. and Wagner, S. and Büchel, C. and von Briesen, H. and others},
title = {{Albumin nanoparticles targeted with Apo E enter the CNS by transcytosis and are delivered to neurones}},
journal = {Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1016/j.jconrel.2009.03.002},
pmid = {19285109},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2009.03.002}
}
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Key findings
- We have also demonstrated uptake of the albumin/ApoE nanoparticles into mouse endothelial (b.End3) cells in vitro and their intracellular localisation.
- These findings indicate that nanoparticles with covalently bound apolipoprotein E are taken up into the cerebral endothelium by an endocytic mechanism followed by transcytosis into brain parenchyma.
Why it matters
In this mouse and in vitro study, human serum albumin nanoparticles with covalently bound apolipoprotein E were detected in brain capillary endothelial cells and neurones after intravenous injection, while nanoparticles without apolipoprotein E showed no uptake into the brain. This describes a possible way to deliver drugs across the blood-brain barrier, but it is early animal and laboratory work and does not itself treat, cure, or prevent Alzheimer disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Controlled Release: journal h-index 376 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2009 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 438 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 23.1 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 17.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 48 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jörg Kreuter: h-index 68 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | King's College London: institution h-index 1,348 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19285109) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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