Therapeutic Enhancement of Mitochondrial Function by Intranasal Mito-AntimiR in TBI
Intranasal drug delivery of mRNAs for mitochondrial maintenance and neuro-protection immediately following TBI.
Project at a Glance
Product Type:
Therapeutic
Project Start Date:
September 1, 2020
Principal Investigators:
Tom Sanderson, PhD
Joe Wider, PhD
Solution Sheet:
Download Solution Sheet (PDF)
Intellectual Property:
Invention Disclosure # 2019-293
Funding History: $135,109 in non-dilutive funding
• 2020 $135,109 Massey Grand Challenge • Substantial additional departmental, school and center based support
Overview
The therapy will be developed from microRNA (miRNA) inhibitors (AntimiR). miRNA are important contributors to health and disease. They regulate the expression of proteins that are involved in many types of cellular processes, including mitochondrial function Studies have reported that TBI initiates expression of miRNAs that inhibit fusion, mitophagy and biogenesis, which may contribute to injury or limit mitochondrial recovery from injury, leading to the progression of secondary injury. These findings provide the opportunity to design therapies that target miRNA(s) to rebalance the mechanisms responsible for regulating mitochondrial health and recovery through quality control.
Image credit: ShutterStock
Significant Need
Mitochondria appear to be a common effector that contributes to the overall progression of secondary brain injury. Following an acute brain injury, mitochondrial damage is widespread and severe. In healthy cells, damaged mitochondria are isolated by fission and recycled through mitophagy/biogenesis. However, widespread mitochondrial damage caused by acute brain injury results in a pathological increase in fission, leading to fragmentation of the mitochondrial network. The goal of this project is to identify a therapeutic approach to restore mitochondrial function after an acute brain injury
Competitive Advantage
Targeting mitochondrial-related miRNAs with AntimiRs will provide balanced mitochondrial quality control and dynamics to enhance mitochondrial recovery from injury and limit the progression of secondary brain injury. Furthermore, intranasal administration of this Anti-MitomiR therapy will provide a rapid, non-invasive means to attenuate traumatic injury and improve neurological outcomes.
Rapid
Non-Invasive
Funding Organization(s)
Publications
None at this time