Nanoparticles for use for enhancing brain performances or for treating stress
Inventors
Levy, Laurent • Meyre, Marie-Edith • Pottier, Agnès
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11247054-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to the medical field, in particular to the enhancement of brain performances and to the treatment of pathological stress. More specifically the present invention relates to a nanoparticle or nanoparticles' aggregate for use in enhancing brain performances or in prevention or treatment of pathological stress in a subject when the nanoparticle and/or nanoparticles' aggregate is exposed to an electric field, wherein the nanoparticle's or nanoparticles' aggregate's material is selected from a conductor material, a semiconductor material, an insulator material with a dielectric constant εijk equal to or above 200, and an insulator material with a dielectric constant εijk equal to or below 100. It further relates to compositions and kits comprising such nanoparticles and/or nanoparticles' aggregates as well as to uses thereof.
Core Innovation
The patent describes a method for enhancing learning, memorizing, sense perception, attention and/or decision making, or treating chronic stress in a subject. The method administers a nanoparticle or nanoparticle aggregate that is exposed to an electric field applied through transcranial electric stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation. The nanoparticle material is selected from metals having a standard reduction potential E0 above 0.2, including Ir, Pd, Pt, Au, or mixtures, and/or insulator materials defined by dielectric constant thresholds, and the nanoparticle or nanoparticle aggregate is coated with a biocompatible agent conferring a neutral surface charge or a negative surface charge.
The dielectric and charge-controlled nanoparticle approach is used as a mediator to enhance brain performance and to treat or prevent pathological chronic stress when the subject is exposed to an electric field via transcranial electric stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation. The description links nanoparticle characteristics, including dielectric-conductive or insulative selection and biocompatible surface charge, with effects on excitatory/inhibitory balance and improved focality and depth penetration. The patent also states that the approach can reduce the required stimulation intensity and potentially reduce toxicity.
The patent further documents examples of nanoparticle materials and coatings consistent with the claimed selection of neutral or negative surface charge. Examples include thiol-PEG coated gold for neutral or negative charge, Si-PEG coated ZrO2 for neutral or negative charge, phosphate-based and sulphate-based negative-charge coatings, a semiconductor Si example, and a high-dielectric BaTiO3 example. The documented work includes an in vitro MEA experiment using low frequency stimulation and high frequency stimulation, reporting nanoparticle-specific potentiation of neuronal network activity, associated with enhanced effective connections and memory capacity.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00017, clm-00021) with a shared inventive concept based on charge-, dielectric-, and material-selected nanoparticles or nanoparticle aggregates exposed to an electric field through transcranial electric stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation. Across the independent claims, there are three main inventive feature themes: administering or providing the selected nanoparticle composition, constraining nanoparticle material properties by E0 and dielectric constant thresholds, and conferring a neutral or negative surface charge via biocompatible coating, followed by exposure to the electric field for the intended functional outcomes.
Nanoparticle selection with defined reduction potential and dielectric thresholds
Administering nanoparticles or nanoparticle aggregates in which the nanoparticle or nanoparticle aggregate material is selected from a metal having a standard reduction potential E0 above 0.2 that is Ir, Pd, Pt, Au, or a mixture thereof, an insulator material with a dielectric constant εijk equal to or above 200, and an insulator material with a dielectric constant εijk equal to or below 100.
Biocompatible coating conferring neutral or negative surface charge
Coating the nanoparticle and/or nanoparticle aggregate with a biocompatible agent conferring a neutral surface charge, or with a biocompatible agent conferring a negative surface charge.
Electric-field exposure through transcranial electric stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation
Exposing the nanoparticle or nanoparticle aggregate to an electric field applied through transcranial electric stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Composition with pharmaceutically acceptable support for transcranial electric or magnetic exposure
Administering a composition comprising nanoparticles and/or nanoparticle aggregates and a pharmaceutically acceptable support, where the nanoparticle or nanoparticle aggregate material is selected from a metal having a standard reduction potential E0 above 0.2 that is Ir, Pd, Pt, Au, or a mixture thereof, an insulator material with a dielectric constant εijk equal to or above 200, and an insulator material with a dielectric constant εijk equal to or below 100, and exposing the subject to an electric field applied through transcranial electric stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Kit of at least two distinct nanoparticle types
Providing a kit comprising at least two distinct nanoparticles and/or nanoparticle aggregates, each nanoparticle or nanoparticle aggregate comprising a distinct material selected from a metal having a standard reduction potential E0 above 0.2 that is Ir, Pd, Pt, Au, or a mixture thereof, an insulator material with a dielectric constant εijk equal to or above 200, and an insulator material with a dielectric constant εijk equal to or below 100.
The claim set focuses on methods and a kit that use nanoparticle or nanoparticle aggregate materials constrained by standard reduction potential and dielectric constant thresholds, with biocompatible coatings that confer either neutral or negative surface charge, followed by electric-field exposure via transcranial electric stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation to achieve the listed functional outcomes.
Stated Advantages
Increased excitatory/inhibitory effects.
Improved focality and depth penetration.
Reduced required stimulation intensity (current/voltage/pulse parameters).
Potential toxicity reduction.
Documented Applications
Enhancing learning, memorizing, sense perception, attention and/or decision making in a subject.
Treating chronic stress, including pathological chronic stress, when exposed to an electric field via transcranial electric stimulation or transcranial magnetic stimulation.
In vitro MEA use with low frequency stimulation and high frequency stimulation to assess nanoparticle-specific potentiation of neuronal network activity and associated effective connections and memory capacity.
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