Research Projects

Tauopathy is a group of disorders caused by abnormal aggregation of tau proteins, leading to an imbalance in protein synthesis and degradation. These disorders include Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, cortico-basal degeneration, argyrophilic grain disease, Pick disease, Lytico-Bodig disease, and fronto-temporal degeneration with Parkinsonism associated with chromosome. The proposed project suggests autophagy as a therapeutic strategy against tauopathy, targeting mTOR, a key controller of autophagy. mTOR is a serine/threonine-specific protein that regulates cellular metabolism, growth, and proliferation. mTOR inhibitors have shown promising results in downregulating cancer growth and inflammatory disorders. However, mTOR blockers have multiple side effects due to systemic administration. To overcome these limitations, nanostructured drug delivery systems are being investigated, incorporating polymeric PLA-PEG and lipidic SLNs nanocarriers that can pass easily through cell membranes or blood brain barriers. These nanocarriers have shown potential in enhancing therapeutic potential, improving bioavailability, reducing toxicity, and improving patient compliance.