Parkinson’s disease (PD) leads to the degeneration of brain regions primarily affecting motor control. In this study, researchers tested MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) for delivering human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to specific brain areas in a rat model of PD. The procedure involved modulating the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to allow MSCs to be delivered effectively to the striatum and substantia nigra regions, which are critical in Parkinson’s pathology.
The study found that MSCs injected via MRgFUS significantly improved the rats’ behavioral outcomes compared to control groups, with better dopamine neuron preservation observed in treated animals. Notably, there was a marked difference in dopamine neurons between the MSCs + MRgFUS group and the MSCs-only group indicating that MRgFUS may enhance the therapeutic effect of MSCs.
This study highlights the potential of MRgFUS as a safe and efficient method for targeted, minimally invasive delivery of stem cells to treat neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. By increasing the permeability of the BBB in specific brain regions, this approach could provide a new pathway for stem cell therapies to repair neural damage and improve clinical outcomes in PD patients.
