Intravenous and Non-invasive Drug Delivery to the Mouse Basal Forebrain Using MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound

Abstract

Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs) regulate circuit dynamics underlying cognitive processing, including attention, memory, and cognitive flexibility. In Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative conditions, the degeneration of BFCNs has long been considered a key player in cognitive decline. The cholinergic system thus represents a key therapeutic target. A long-standing obstacle for the development of effective cholinergic-based therapies is not only the production of biologically active compounds but also a platform for safe and efficient drug delivery to the basal forebrain. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a significant challenge for drug delivery to the brain, excluding approximately 98% of small-molecule biologics and nearly 100% of large-molecule therapeutic agents from entry into the brain parenchyma. Current modalities to achieve effective drug delivery to deep brain structures, such as the basal forebrain, are particularly limited. Direct intracranial injection via a needle or catheter carries risks associated with invasive neurosurgery. Intra-arterial injection of hyperosmotic solutions or therapeutics modified to penetrate the BBB using endogenous transport systems lack regional specificity, which may not always be desirable. Intranasal, intrathecal, and intraventricular administration have limited drug distribution beyond the brain surface. Here, we present a protocol for non-invasively, locally, and transiently increasing BBB permeability using MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRIgFUS) in the murine basal forebrain for delivery of therapeutic agents targeting the cholinergic system. Ongoing work in preclinical models and clinical trials supports the safety and feasibility of MRIgFUS-mediated BBB modulation as a promising drug delivery modality for the treatment of debilitating neurological diseases.