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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
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Systemic and Local Drug Delivery for Treating Diseases of the Central Nervous System in Rodent Models
Published on: August 16, 2010
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Pathogen-inspired drug delivery to the central nervous system
Rebecca L McCall1, Joseph Cacaccio2, Eileen Wrabel3
1Barrow Brain Tumor Research Center; Barrow Neurological Institute ; Phoenix, AZ USA.
Tissue Barriers
|January 23, 2015
Summary
Pathogens use various strategies to breach the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) and enter the central nervous system (CNS). Understanding these mechanisms can help develop targeted delivery of nanocarriers to the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Disease
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- The human blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the central nervous system (CNS) from bloodborne pathogens.
- Pathogens have evolved diverse mechanisms to circumvent the BBB, including direct cellular entry and toxin-mediated disruption.
- Understanding these pathogen invasion strategies is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the directed mechanisms used by viruses, bacteria, and toxins to enter the CNS.
- To identify ligand-mediated strategies for enhancing brain-specific delivery of nanocarriers.
- To explore the potential of nanocarriers for treating CNS disorders.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pathogen entry mechanisms into the CNS.
- Analysis of ligand-receptor interactions at the BBB.
- Identification of potential targeting strategies for nanocarrier delivery.
Main Results:
- Viruses and bacteria can directly infect CNS cells or utilize toxins to disrupt neuronal function.
- Specific cellular receptors and pathways are exploited by pathogens to cross the BBB.
- Ligand-mediated targeting offers a promising approach for brain-specific nanocarrier delivery.
Conclusions:
- Pathogen strategies for CNS entry provide insights into overcoming the BBB.
- Targeted delivery of nanocarriers using identified ligands can improve therapeutic efficacy.
- This approach holds potential for novel treatments for neurological diseases and infections.
Keywords:
DGL, dendrigraft poly-l-lysineDrug deliveryGABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid receptorMMP-2, matrix metalloprotease-2NCAM, neural cell adhesion moleculeNMDA, N-methyl-D-aspartatePEG, polyethylene glycolPEI, polyethyleniminebraincentral nervous systemnAchR, nicotinic acetylcholine receptorpathogenpeptidetoxin
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