Intranasal drug delivery for brain targeting

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology and Drug Delivery
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Conventional drug delivery to the brain and central nervous system (CNS) is hindered by complex biological barriers, limiting therapeutic efficacy.
• The brain's limited accessibility from the blood compartment necessitates advanced strategies for effective drug targeting.
• Intranasal drug delivery has emerged as a viable alternative for direct nose-to-brain transport.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the challenges and pertinent issues in brain-targeted intranasal drug delivery.
• To explore the potential of the intranasal route for bypassing the blood-brain barrier.
• To discuss existing and investigational drug formulations for CNS targeting via the nasal route.

Main Methods:

• Review of scientific literature on intranasal drug delivery mechanisms for brain targeting.
• Analysis of various models designed to study nose-to-brain transport pathways.
• Discussion of drug properties, transport mechanisms, and formulation development challenges.

Main Results:

• The olfactory and peripheral circulation pathways connect the nasal and brain compartments, enabling direct drug transport.
• Significant progress has been made in understanding and utilizing nose-to-brain transport.
• Numerous challenges remain in developing effective intranasal drug products for CNS delivery.

Conclusions:

• Intranasal drug delivery presents a viable strategy for targeting the brain and CNS, offering an alternative to conventional methods.
• A deeper understanding of drug properties and transport mechanisms is essential for optimizing this delivery route.
• Continued research and development are needed to overcome existing hurdles and realize the full therapeutic potential of intranasal brain delivery.