The development of advanced drug delivery systems that can cross the blood–brain barrier is a key challenge in treating neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). In an effort to exploit extracellular vesicles (EVs) as a drug delivery system, the Howard group (iNANO) and Nejsum group (Clinical Medicine) at Aarhus University have joined forces. The Howard group contributes with their expertise in drug delivery systems and the Nejsum group with their expertise in EV biology.

In a recent issue of the Danish science magazine Aktuel Naturvidenskab, the team behind the project, PhD-student Jonas Klejs Hemmingsen (Clinical Medicine/iNANO), Ass. Prof. Bradley Whitehead (Clinical Medicine), Assoc. Prof. Ken Howard (iNANO) and Prof. Peter Nejsum (Clinical Medicine) discuss the use of EVs as the next-generation drug delivery system. EVs are natural carriers of biomolecules and importantly, they can deliver their cargo to hard-to-reach areas such as the brain.

The article highlights the strategy of decorating EVs to enhance their circulation and targeting that might enhance the natural properties of EVs.

The cross-faculty collaboration between iNANO and Clinical Medicine and illustrates how combining expertise in EV biology and drug delivery systems can generate new experimental strategies. Together, the groups aim to uncover how EVs can be engineered to serve as a platform for next-generation therapies.

Read the article (in Danish):
“Nanobudbringere til hjernen – Et nyt våben mod sclerose”, Aktuel Naturvidenskab, issue 4–2025
https://aktuelnaturvidenskab.dk/find-artikel/nyeste-numre/4-2025/nanobudbringere-til-hjernen-et-nyt-vaaben-mod-sclerose

Scientific references highlighted in the article include:

• Gowen A. et al. (2020): Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles, Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
• Inge K. H. et al. (2021): Extracellular vesicles as a next-generation drug delivery platform, Nat. Nanotechnol. DOI
• Celle-til-celle kommunikation: Exosomer i blodet, Ugeskrift for Læger