On the 21st, Kim Jong-seung, a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Korea University, announced that his research team developed the world's first nanotheranostic that can specifically target the rabies virus (RABV). Nanotheranostic refers to ultra-fine nanoparticle-based technology that can simultaneously perform disease diagnosis and treatment.
Rabies is a viral disease that damages the central nervous system, causing fatal symptoms, with a mortality rate close to 100%. The infection mechanism of the virus is not clearly understood, and an effective treatment is still unavailable. In cases where the virus reaches the brain, there is also a risk of toxicity due to the need for high doses of medication.
The research team focused on photodynamic therapy (PDT) for the treatment of rabies. This method selectively destroys diseased cells through the reaction of light and photosensitizers. Photosensitizers generate reactive oxygen species when exposed to specific light, attacking the cells.
However, conventional PDT has limitations. The commonly used light cannot penetrate deep tissues within the body, and it is particularly difficult for drugs, including photosensitizers, to reach the brain due to the blood-brain barrier. To address this issue, the research team utilized longer wavelength near-infrared light to induce reactive oxygen reactions that can reach the central nervous system.
The newly developed nanoparticles can not only pass through the blood-brain barrier but also have 'aptamers' that specifically bind only to the proteins of the rabies virus, allowing them to selectively target infected cells. Aptamers refer to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) that selectively bind to specific targets. The nanoparticles also emit fluorescent signals, enabling real-time high-resolution observation of the infection site. This means they can simultaneously find, observe, and treat diseased cells.
The research team selectively eliminated only the virus-infected nerve cells using the newly developed nanoparticles and reported high effectiveness and safety. The research team noted, "This study is the world's first case combining near-infrared light and viral proteins."
Professor Kim Jong-seung said, "We have opened up new possibilities for safely and precisely treating rabies, a fatal brain infection," and added, "I expect this will mark an important turning point in central nervous system treatment technology utilizing light."
The results of this study were published online in the international journal Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS) on the 2nd.
References
Journal of the American Chemical Society (2025), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5c04975