PubMed · 2026-03-12
Scientists harvested tiny bubble-like particles naturally produced by the acerola fruit and used them to deliver CRISPR gene-editing tools into the brains of living animals via a nose spray. The plant-derived particles successfully edited a gene linked to ALS and frontotemporal dementia, suggesting a noninvasive route around the brain's toughest biological barrier.
Acerola-derived nanoparticles formed stable complexes with CRISPR-Cas9 protein and guide RNA without breaking down under storage conditions.
Attaching a GLP2 peptide tag to the plant-particle complexes improved delivery selectivity to neurons expressing GLP2 receptors compared to untagged particles.
Intranasal administration in live animals achieved confirmed genome editing of the C9orf72 mutation site in the brain, the most common genetic cause of familial ALS.
