100자평 0 좋아요 0 페이스북 공유 트위터 공유 카카오스토리 공유 구글플러스 공유 네이버블로그 공유 기사 URL공유 공유 더보기 입력 2026.03.06 14:08
▲ 왼쪽부터 중앙대 생명환경연구원 Wubshet Mekonnen Girma 연구교수, 동물생명공학과 방명걸 교수 ▲ 영상 및 다양한 치료 전략을 지능적으로 통합할 수 있는 중추신경계 질환 치료를 위한 차세대 나노 CD 기반 치료진단 플랫폼
Central University researchers have developed a novel nanotechnology platform using carbon dots that shows promise for treating central nervous system diseases, a significant step forward in addressing conditions historically hard to treat due to the blood-brain barrier. The research, led by Professor Bang Myung-gul of the Department of Animal Life Science at Central University, was published on February 26, 2026, in Theranostics, a leading medical and research journal (IF=13.3, JCR Rank=6/195).
The study, titled “Carbon dots penetrating the blood-brain barrier for central nervous system nanomedicine,” proposes carbon dots (CDs) as a next-generation nano-therapeutic and diagnostic platform for central nervous system disorders. Central nervous system diseases present a major therapeutic challenge because of the restrictive nature of the blood-brain barrier. This barrier, formed by tightly connected endothelial cells, severely limits the passage of most therapeutic agents into brain tissue, hindering treatment for neurological disorders and brain tumors.
Researchers comprehensively analyzed strategies to enhance blood-brain barrier penetration and selective brain accumulation using ultra-small, photoluminescent carbon nanoparticles. They found that surface modifications – utilizing targeting ligands, polymer coatings, biomimetic membranes, and exosome-like structures – can increase the blood-brain barrier permeability of CDs and enable selective accumulation in the brain. The inherent fluorescent properties and adjustable surface chemistry of CDs make them particularly noteworthy in the field of precision nanomedicine.
The team demonstrated that these modified carbon dots can effectively cross the blood-brain barrier, potentially delivering treatments directly to affected areas of the brain. This approach could revolutionize the treatment of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and brain cancers.
According to the research, CDs also have the potential to be combined with various diagnostic technologies, including fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, and photoacoustic imaging, to monitor treatment responses in real-time. The platform can be integrated with diverse therapeutic strategies such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, photothermal, and photodynamic therapies, enabling image-guided integrated treatment.
The findings offer a new avenue for developing targeted therapies for previously intractable neurological conditions, potentially improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
