Researchers at the University of Essex have developed microscopic medicines that could pave the way for new approaches to treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neurone disease (MND).
Working with an international team, the scientists used artificial intelligence to create extremely small antibody fragments that can be produced directly inside human cells. Once there, the fragments can attach to proteins associated with disease.
Ordinary antibodies generally function outside cells. The newly redesigned fragments, called intrabodies, have instead been engineered to remain stable within cells, allowing them to target proteins involved in neurodegenerative conditions.
Electrical Charge Helps Antibodies Survive Inside Cells
The research was funded by the MND Association and led by Dr. Caitlin O'Shea and Dr. Gareth Wright from the School of Life Sciences. The team discovered that electrical charge is a key factor in determining whether antibody fragments can remain stable and functional inside cells.
