Photopharmacology is an innovative research field that uses light to activate seizure-suppressive medications selectively in the seizure focus. The photoreactive cage detachs from the drug. The activated drug exert its function when and where needed.
Using this approach widespread side effects due to drugs acting in other regions of the body are avoided, a common problem with anti-seizure medication.
Our research focuses on a molecule called CPA (N6-cyclopentyladenosine), which is effective at suppressing abnormal neuronal activity via a specific pathway, the adenosine A1 receptor. Our current work focuses on the pre-clinical validation of this approach and its integration into closed-loop systems. These systems are designed to monitor brain activity in real-time, detecting the hyperactivity of a brain region before the start of a seizure, and automatically triggering the light therapy. The optimal system would be sensitive enough to suppress the hyperactivity that causes seizures while maintaining the brain’s normal neuronal communication.
Researcher(s) involved in this research line:
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Robrecht Raedt
Professor Robrecht Raedt, PhD, is leading the preclinical 4Brain research lab, with a main focus on new treatment techniques as a treatment for various neuropsychiatric disorders (epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, glioblastoma).
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