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Related Concept Videos

Physiological Barriers01:25

Physiological Barriers

Physiological barriers are semi-permeable cellular structures restricting drug diffusion into intracellular compartments and tissues. There are six types of physiological barriers: blood endothelial, cell membrane, blood-brain, blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood-placenta, and blood-testis barriers.
The blood endothelial barrier is the most porous of these. It allows all small ionized, un-ionized, and lipophilic molecules to pass through the endothelial lining into the interstitial space...
Mechanisms of Drug Absorption: Paracellular, Transcellular, and Vesicular Transport01:23

Mechanisms of Drug Absorption: Paracellular, Transcellular, and Vesicular Transport

Drugs need to permeate cell membranes to reach their target sites after administration. Orally administered drugs must transcend intestinal epithelial membrane barriers to infiltrate the systemic circulation. Drugs with a molecular weight of less than 500 Daltons diffuse through gaps between neighboring cells, called paracellular pathways.
However, most drugs use the transcellular route, traversing directly through the cell membranes via two mechanisms: passive and active transport. Passive...
Surface Membrane Barriers01:18

Surface Membrane Barriers

The skin and mucous membranes serve as the primary line of defense against pathogens by providing both physical and chemical protection. These barriers are essential in preventing the entry and establishment of microbes, thereby maintaining the integrity of the host.
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Defense Mechanism Against Infection01:26

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment01:25

Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment

Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...

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A New Portable In Vitro Exposure Cassette for Aerosol Sampling
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Different particulate systems--bypass the biological barriers?

Anca N Jătariu1, Marcel Popa, Cătălina A Peptu

  • 1Department of Natural and Synthetic Polymers, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Technical University Gheorghe Asachi from Iasi, Iasi, Romania.

Journal of Drug Targeting
|November 4, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Nanocarriers like nanoparticles, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles can overcome biological barriers. This research explores their potential to improve drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier, skin, eyes, and tumors.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Nanotechnology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The human body possesses defense mechanisms that often act as barriers to effective drug delivery.
  • Understanding these biological barriers is crucial for developing advanced therapeutic strategies.
  • Drug delivery challenges impede the transport of therapeutic agents to their intended sites of action.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of nanocarriers in overcoming biological barriers for enhanced drug delivery.
  • To discuss the application of nanoparticles, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles in drug delivery systems.
  • To review strategies for utilizing nanocarriers to traverse specific biological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier, skin, eyes, and tumors.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems.
  • Analysis of different nanocarrier types: nanoparticles, liposomes, and solid lipid nanoparticles.
  • Examination of strategies for designing nanocarriers to penetrate biological barriers.

Main Results:

  • Nanocarriers demonstrate significant potential in overcoming biological barriers.
  • Specific nanocarrier designs can be tailored for targeted delivery across the blood-brain barrier, skin, eyes, and tumors.
  • Liposomes, nanoparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles offer versatile platforms for drug delivery system design.

Conclusions:

  • Nanocarriers represent a promising approach to surmount biological defense mechanisms that hinder drug delivery.
  • Strategic design of nanocarriers can facilitate drug transport across challenging biological barriers.
  • Further research into nanocarrier applications can lead to more effective therapeutic interventions.