Stroke is a global leading cause of death and disability. Although advancements in reperfusion therapy have allowed timely return of blood flow to the brain in a proportion of patients eligible for this intervention, there is currently no treatment to limit inflammatory events which has been shown to enhance brain injury. In this project, we hypothesise interrupting interactions between blood-derived thrombocytes (platelets) and brain-resident immune cells (microglia) will limit cerebral thrombo-inflammation and associated tissue injury to improve stroke outcome. To test this, we will use an internationally recognised preclinical model of ischaemic stroke and state-of-the-art in vivo brain imaging to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying platelet-microglial interactions. Moreover, we aim to provide proof-of-concept evidence that delivery of our purposely designed pH-responsive nanoparticles which directly target and inhibit cell interactions in the highly acidic inflammatory ischaemic brain tissue will reduce neural injury after stroke.
Last updated17 January 2023