Researchers at the University of South Carolina have developed a nanoparticle-based treatment that appears to reduce brain inflammation and amyloid beta levels as well as improve performance on standard memory and learning tests in Alzheimer’s disease mice by converting star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes into functioning neurons.
Alzheimer’s disease remains irreversible, primarily because the adult brain is unable to replace lost neurons. king others. presented a Nano-ERASER-based Trim-Away system that enables adult neural regeneration in Alzheimer’s disease brains. Image credit: Wang others., doi: 10.1016/j.celbio.2026.100575.
“Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and no treatments yet exist to reverse cognitive decline,” said Peishen Xu and colleagues at the University of South Carolina.
“Pathologically, Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by extracellular Aβ deposits, neurofibrillary tangles consisting of hyperphosphorylated tau, synaptic loss, and neuronal death.”
“Current FDA-approved treatments, including cholinesterase inhibitors, memantine, and anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies, provide modest symptomatic treatment and partial delay in progression, but do not stop neurodegeneration or restore lost neural circuits.”
“While amyloid-lowering biologics reduce plaque burden, their clinical efficacy remains limited, and concerns such as amyloid-related imaging abnormalities, limited patient eligibility, and high treatment burden highlight the need for alternative strategies to restore neurological function through regenerative mechanisms.”
In the study, the authors investigated a polymeric nanogel system called Nano-ERASER that uses antibodies to degrade target proteins.
They used this system to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and invade astrocytes, star-shaped supporting cells that are abundant in the central nervous system.
Nano-ERASER deployed antibodies inside astrocytes to degrade a protein called PTBP1, triggering their conversion into neurons.
Compared to gene editing tools like CRISPR, Nano-ERASER does not alter DNA and the reprogramming of cells is reversible.
“We hope this is more effective and safer,” Professor Xu said.
“You don’t have to worry about potential side effects caused at the genetic level.”
First, the researchers applied Nano-ERASER to human astrocyte cultures and human organoids engineered to mimic Alzheimer’s disease brains.
In both models, PTBP1 levels were reduced and the conversion of astrocytes into neurons was promoted. Further tests revealed that these new neurons were functional.
Next, the researchers treated mice with Alzheimer’s disease. Over several weeks, their nesting skills recovered and they completed water mazes more efficiently than before, suggesting improved learning and memory.
Furthermore, the mice’s brains showed increased neuron density and reduced neuroinflammation and amyloid beta protein accumulation, hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.
“After just two injections, these mice became smarter,” Professor Xu said.
“We already found that the behavior of these mice was different from that of untreated mice, even after a single injection.”
“This discovery represents an important step in regenerative neuroscience, in part because previous studies have debated whether PTBP1 inhibition alone can induce nerve regeneration in vivo.”
“While this study does not prove that Nano-ERASER treats Alzheimer’s disease in humans, it provides a roadmap to potential treatments.”
“We plan to evaluate the long-term efficacy of this platform, test it in non-human primates, and someday begin clinical trials in humans.”
“If we can advance this into the clinic, we could give hope to Alzheimer’s patients.”
team’s paper Published in today’s magazine cell biomaterial.
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Wang Minmin others. Reversing Alzheimer’s disease progression through Nano-ERASER-based adult neural regeneration. cell biomaterialpublished online on August 26, 2026. doi: 10.1016/j.celbio.2026.100575
Source: www.sci.news
