Transport of hydrophobized fragments of antibodies through the blood-brain barrier.

Hydrophobized and non-hydrophobized Fab fragments of human antibodies against gliofibrillar acid protein (GFAP) and brain specific alpha 2-glycoprotein (alpha 2GP) were used to study their penetration through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These Fab fragments were modified by stearoyl chloride in reversed micelles of aerosol OT in octane (one or two fatty acid residues attached to protein molecule). Modified and non-modified 125I-labelled Fab fragments were intracardially administered to rats. The amount of label accumulated in brain was 55% higher than the total amount in all other organs. In contrast, non-hydrophobized Fab fragments did not penetrate through the BBB. We assume that the artificial hydrophobization of Fab fragments can increase their capability to penetrate through the cell membranes and, in particular, the BBB.

Fatty acid acylated Fab-fragments of antibodies to neurospecific proteins as carriers for neuroleptic targeted delivery in brain.

A method for targeted delivery of neuroleptics from blood in brain based on using Fab-fragments of antibodies to antigens of brain glia cells (acid gliofibrillar antigen and alpha 2-glycoprotein) is suggested. The essence of the technique is that the molecule of neuroleptic (trifluoperazine) is conjugated with Fab-fragments of these antibodies. The conjugate thus obtained is modified by stearoylchloride in the system of Aerosol OT reversed micelles in octane. The study of the distribution of 125I-labelled conjugates in the rat organism after intracordial introduction is performed. On the contrary to the nonmodified conjugates and conjugate, containing fatty acylated Fab-fragments of antibodies, nonspecific to the rat brain, the conjugate of trifluoperazine with stearoylated Fab-fragments of antibodies to neurospecific antigens accumulate in brain tissues. The drastic increase of the neuroleptic activity of trifluoperazine resulting from its coupling with stearoylated Fab-fragments of antiglial antibodies is observed.