The research, led by the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, reveals that the blood–brain barrier is defined not only by the proteins it expresses, but by how it uses them, through a dynamic property known as endocytic turnover rate (ETOR).

This discovery shows that brain endothelial cells have a unique molecular behaviour that distinguishes them from other blood vessels and can be disrupted during inflammation.

The results provide new insight into how the barrier functions and fails in disease which may help identify novel therapeutic strategies to restore neurovascular health.

We report a novel marine polysaccharide-based biomimetic bilayer scaffold, d-ACT@MIC/SIM, featuring a dense upper layer serving as a barrier layer and a porous lower layer mimicking the native bone matrix microenvironment. This sophisticated architecture, coupled with the programmed co-delivery of minocycline and simvastatin, endowed the scaffold with a multifaceted therapeutic armamentarium. In vitro assessments identified its significant antibacterial efficacy and osteoinductive potential. Animal experiments further validated its capacity to suppress inflammatory cytokine expression and facilitate alveolar bone regeneration. The integrated strategy of a structurally biomimetic, dual drug-releasing scaffold thus offers a significant advancement over conventional therapeutic modalities for periodontitis by concurrently addressing infection, inflammation, and tissue regeneration. As such, this innovative bilayer asymmetric bionic drug-carrying scaffolds emerge as a compelling and prospective therapeutic option for advancing periodontitis treatment.