Magnesium Therapy Development for Stroke

Magnesium is an intracellular cation that is essential for hundreds of enzymatic processes. Magnesium is involved in a variety of physiological processes that may be associated with cerebral ischemia. Magnesium sulfate has shown potential efficacy and an acceptable safety profile when used early after stroke onset in humans. Magnesium is popular in stroke treatment because of its unique benefits:

• Magnesium levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid can be well controlled because they are easy to measure and track.
• Magnesium is more suitable as a component of combination therapy than other calcium antagonists.
• Magnesium has a favorable safety profile.

Fig.1. Magnesium atoms block the ion channel, preventing sodium and calcium entry into the postsynaptic neuron. (Lingam, et al., 2018)

Our Magnesium Therapy Development Services

Ace Therapeutics provides comprehensive magnesium therapy development services to help clients develop neuroprotective drugs for stroke. Our experienced team of experts is dedicated to exploring the neuroprotective potential, mechanism of action, and efficacy of magnesium in preclinical experiments. We utilize the best resources to deliver high quality research results.

Optimization of Therapeutic Magnesium Formulations

We can help clients optimize magnesium formulation to ensure its bioavailability.

• Magnesium salts: Magnesium sulfate, magnesium L-threonate, magnesium chloride.
• Particle size reduction: Reducing the particle size of magnesium salts through micronization or nanosizing techniques to increase the rate of solubility and improve bioavailability.
• Complexation or chelation: Formulating magnesium with compounds that enhance its absorption, such as amino acids or peptides, to improve bioavailability.
• pH optimization: Adjusting the pH of the formulation to optimize magnesium solubility and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract can improve bioavailability.
• Drug delivery system development: Development of drug carrier systems (e.g., nanoparticles or liposomes) to improve the permeability of magnesium across the blood-brain barrier and to control its release in the brain.
• Development of magnesium formulations for intranasal drug delivery.

Preclinical Evaluation of Magnesium Formulations

We offer a variety of animal models of stroke (e.g., MCAO, photothrombotic stroke model, complete global cerebral ischemia models) to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of magnesium formulation. By carefully regulating the body temperature of the animal models, we can also study the effects of magnesium formulation and hypothermia on neuronal survival and functional recovery.

• MRI or TTC staining to measure infarct size.
• Behavioral testing: The modified neurological severity score (mNSS), the rotating rod test, and the Morris water maze.
• Wet-dry gravimetry to measure brain water content to assess the degree of edema.
• Measurement of cytokines and other inflammatory markers in brain tissue.
• Assess antioxidant levels and oxidative damage in brain tissue.
• Measure magnesium levels in blood and brain tissue to understand absorption, distribution, and clearance rates.

Ace Therapeutics leverages expertise in the mechanism of action of magnesium and innovative preclinical evaluation capabilities to help clients develop effective magnesium therapies and evaluate their neuroprotective effects. If you are interested in our services, please do not hesitate to contact us!

1. Lingam, I., & Robertson, N. J. (2018). Magnesium as a neuroprotective agent: a review of its use in the fetus, term infant with neonatal encephalopathy, and the adult stroke patient. Developmental neuroscience, 40(1), 1-12.