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Updated: Aug 14, 2026
15:04
Modeling and Simulations of Olfactory Drug Delivery with Passive and Active Controls of Nasally Inhaled Pharmaceutical Aerosols
Published on: May 20, 2016
Advances in nasal drug delivery through tight junction technology
Paul H Johnson1, Steven C Quay
1Nastech Pharmaceutical Company, Inc., Bothell, WA 98021, USA. pjohnson@nastech.com
Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery
|November 22, 2005
Summary
Scientists are improving drug delivery through the nose by understanding how to temporarily open biological barriers called tight junctions (TJ). This enhances the effectiveness of various medications, including peptides and proteins.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Recent advances in understanding tight junction (TJ) molecular biology are enabling new strategies for drug delivery.
- The bioavailability of challenging drug molecules, including peptides and oligonucleotides, can be significantly improved via intranasal administration.
- TJ research has led to the development of high-throughput screening methods for identifying TJ modulators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent developments in TJ protein complex research.
- To explore the role of endocytic pathways in regulating TJ dynamics.
- To highlight the utility of techniques like RNA interference and phage display in identifying TJ modulators.
Main Methods:
- Investigating TJ protein complex as a lipid raft-like membrane microdomain.
- Studying unique endocytic pathways involved in TJ regulation.
- Utilizing RNA interference and phage display for TJ component analysis and modulator identification.
Main Results:
- Identification of novel peptides and molecules that modulate TJ function.
- Development of experimental and statistical methodologies for identifying TJ modulators.
- Demonstration of reversible TJ barrier opening for enhanced drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- New TJ modulators show potential for significantly improving intranasal and oral drug delivery.
- Understanding TJ dynamics is key to overcoming bioavailability challenges for various drug types.
- An advanced intranasal formulation for the obesity therapeutic PYY(3-36) has been developed.
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