miRNA nanoencapsulation to regulate the programming of the blood-brain barrier permeability by hipoxia.

Central nervous system (CNS)-related diseases are difficult to treat as most therapeutic agents they cannot reach the brain tissue, mainly due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), arguably the tightest barrier between the human body and cerebral parenchyma, which routinely excludes most xenobiotic therapeutics compounds. The BBB is a multicellular complex that structurally forms the neurovascular unit (NVU) and is organized by neuro-endothelial and glial cells. BBB breakdown and dysfunction from the cerebrovascular cells lead to leakages of systemic components from the blood into the CNS, contributing to neurological deficits. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate BBB permeability and disruption is essential for establishing future therapeutic strategies to restore permeability and improve cerebrovascular health. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a type of small noncoding RNAs, are emerging as an important regulator of BBB integrity by modulating gene expression by targeting mRNA transcripts. miRNAs is implicated in the development and progression of various illnesses. Conversely, nanoparticle carriers offer unprecedented opportunities for cell-specific controlled delivery of miRNAs for therapeutic purposes. In this sense, we present in this graphical review critical evidence in the regulation of cell junction expression mediated by miRNAs induced by hypoxia and for the use of nanoparticles for the delivery of miRNA-based therapeutics in the treatment of BBB permeability

Famílies botàniques de plantes medicinals

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia, Assignatura: Botànica Farmacèutica, Curs: 2013-2014, Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són els recull de 175 treballs d’una família botànica d’interès medicinal realitzats de manera individual. Els treballs han estat realitzat per la totalitat dels estudiants dels grups M-2 i M-3 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos d’abril i maig del curs 2013-14. Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pel professor de l’assignatura i revisats i finalment co-avaluats entre els propis estudiants. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica