Researchers have developed a novel drug delivery method for central nervous system disorders by hijacking immune cells found in the skull's bone marrow. By injecting drug-loaded albumin nanoparticles directly into the skull bone, these particles are internalized by calvarial myeloid cells that naturally migrate into the brain via skull-meninges microchannels. This approach effectively bypasses the blood-brain barrier, allowing for targeted therapeutic transport to brain lesions during conditions like ischemic stroke. Preclinical studies in mice demonstrated that this technique achieves superior neuroprotection and improved cognitive recovery with significantly lower drug dosages than systemic administration. Furthermore, a pilot clinical trial in humans confirmed the procedural feasibility and safety of this skull-based delivery route for stroke patients. Overall, the research establishes a clinically translatable platform that leverages the body's own immune trafficking pathways to enhance neurological treatments.

References:

• Gao X, Liu X, Wang N, et al. Nanoparticles hijack calvarial immune cells for CNS drug delivery and stroke therapy[J]. Cell, 2026.