Scientists searching for new ways to treat brain diseases such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease have discovered an unlikely benefit in camels, llamas and alpacas (known as camelids) – animals whose immune systems may point to a new way to treat the brain. These species produce unusually small immune proteins called nanobodies—tiny, stable fragments of antibodies—that can penetrate the brain's protective barrier in a way that most drugs cannot.
New review in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences suggests that these tiny molecules could work as a hybrid—precise like antibodies but nimble like small drugs—offering a safer, more targeted way to treat the brain.
“Camel nanobodies open a new era of biological therapy for brain diseases and revolutionize the way we think about therapy,” said study co-author Philippe Rondar. in a press release. “We think they could create a new class of drugs between conventional antibodies and small molecules.”
Read more: Can animals get schizophrenia or is it only limited to humans?
Tiny nanobodies hold great promise in the fight against Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia
In the early 1990s, a group of Belgian scientists, studying the immune system of camelids, stumbled upon something strange. Instead of the usual Y-shaped antibodies found in most mammals, these animals created a thinner version, missing half of its normal parts.
This tiny fragment, later called a nanobody, turned out to be only one-tenth the size of a normal antibody. And size in this case changes everything. Nanobodies are small enough to reach molecular targets that larger drugs, including those protected by the protective lining of the brain, cannot reach. blood-brain barrier. They're also remarkably stable and easy to develop, meaning researchers can design them to target specific receptors associated with memory, learning or mood—areas that conventional drugs often target too broadly.
“These are highly soluble small proteins that can passively enter the brain,” co-author Pierre-André Lafon said in a press release. “In contrast, small molecule drugs designed to cross the blood-brain barrier are hydrophobic in nature, which limits their bioavailability, increases the risk of off-target binding, and is associated with side effects.”
A new type of drug for safer brain treatment
Recent preclinical studies have already shown what nanobodies are capable of. In mouse models schizophreniaThe researchers used a specially designed nanobody that targets the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGlu2), a brain receptor involved in the regulation of glutamate, a key neurotransmitter. Once injected, the nanobody entered the brain, accumulated in areas associated with cognition and emotion, and restored performance on memory tests.
Instead of flooding the brain with chemicals, this nanobody acted as a “positive allosteric modulator,” subtly enhancing receptor function only when natural signaling molecules were present. This precision meant a longer-lasting effect—improving cognitive function in mice for more than a week—without noticeable toxicity or inflammation.
Such findings hint at a future in which nanobody-based drugs can fine-tune brain circuits rather than directly alter them, reducing the fatigue, weight gain or sedation often associated with existing psychiatric drugs.
The future of nanomedicine
However, the road to treating people is long. Before nanobodies reach the clinic, researchers must prove they are safe, stable and effective over time.
“For the nanobodies themselves, we also need to evaluate their stability, confirm that they fold correctly, and ensure that there is no aggregation,” Rondard said. “It will be necessary to obtain clinical-grade nanobodies and stable formulations that remain active during long-term storage and transportation.”
The team is currently testing how these molecules behave when used chronically, and the results look promising. If their longevity continues, nanobodies could become the next generation of biological drugs.
This article does not contain medical advice and should be used for informational purposes only.
Read more: How nanobodies from llamas, alpacas and yeast could help fight COVID-19
Article sources
Our authors in discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed research and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:
