Nano-Formulated Melatonin: A Potential Therapeutic Solution for Parkinson’s Disease

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Jan. Scientists have unveiled a promising therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s disease (PD) through the nano-formulation of melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness. This new formulation demonstrated improved antioxidative and neuroprotective properties, potentially offering a cure for the neurodegenerative disorder.

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain due to the aggregation of synuclein proteins. While current treatments alleviate symptoms, they do not cure the disease, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapies.

In recent studies, melatonin has been identified as a potential inducer of mitophagy—an essential process that removes dysfunctional mitochondria and reduces oxidative stress. Despite its potential, melatonin’s use in treating PD has been limited by challenges such as low bioavailability and poor brain delivery.

To overcome these obstacles, a team of researchers at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, developed a nano-formulation using human serum albumin (HSA) to deliver melatonin directly to the brain. This nano-melatonin formulation showed sustained release, improved bioavailability, and enhanced antioxidative effects.

In vitro studies on a PD model revealed that nano-melatonin promoted mitophagy, cleared unhealthy mitochondria, and even improved mitochondrial biogenesis, providing neuroprotection. Notably, the formulation protected neurons from toxicity induced by rotenone, a pesticide that triggers PD-like symptoms. The sustained release of melatonin resulted in increased therapeutic efficacy, outpacing traditional melatonin treatments.

A key finding was that nano-melatonin upregulated BMI1, an epigenetic regulator involved in mitophagy induction, reducing oxidative stress and potentially alleviating PD symptoms. The team’s research, published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, also showed that nano-melatonin could protect TH-positive neurons from degeneration in rat brains.

This breakthrough offers new insights into melatonin’s molecular mechanisms and its potential as a neurotherapeutic drug for Parkinson’s disease and other disorders involving dysregulated mitophagy. Further exploration could position melatonin as a safer and more effective treatment, significantly improving the lives of PD patients.