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Systemic delivery of therapeutics to neuronal tissues: a barrier modulation approach
Matthew Campbell1, Ema Ozaki, Peter Humphries
1Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Ocular Genetics Unit, Dublin 2, Ireland. Matthew.Campbell@tcd.ie
Importance Of The Field:
Efficient systemic delivery of low-molecular-mass therapeutics to neuronal tissue remains a central issue not only to drug development but also to the chronic treatment of a range of neurodegenerative disorders.
Areas Covered In This Review:
This review discusses the potential of using RNA interference to modulate tight junction proteins at the blood-brain barrier and inner blood-retina barrier. Both systemic delivery of short-interfering RNA and viral-mediated delivery of short hairpin RNA are discussed, highlighting the therapeutic area relevant to each.
What The Reader Will Gain:
Readers will gain an insight into the potential of size-selective and reversible modulation of neuronal barriers and the types of low-molecular-mass molecule that could be used in the treatment of various neurodegenerative or neuromalignant disorders.
Take Home Message:
The purpose of this review is to describe a new therapeutic strategy for systemic delivery of low-molecular-mass therapeutics to neuronal tissues.
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