New Drug Delivery Systems Developed for Brain Targeting

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• The blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) protect the central nervous system (CNS) but hinder drug delivery.
• Effective CNS drug delivery requires overcoming these barriers for various therapeutic agents, including small molecules, biologics, and gene therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current trends and strategies in brain targeting research.
• To discuss factors influencing drug transport across the BBB/BCSFB and their therapeutic impact.

Main Methods:

• Review of invasive, minimally invasive, and non-invasive brain targeting approaches.
• Analysis of physiological, neuropharmacological, and etiological factors affecting drug delivery.

Main Results:

• Pre-clinical studies show promise for various brain targeting methods.
• Non-invasive approaches, such as intranasal administration and nanocarrier systems, demonstrate significant potential.

Conclusions:

• Translational challenges remain for clinical application of many brain targeting strategies.
• Further research into non-invasive methods like intranasal delivery, P-gp inhibition, pro-drugs, and nanocarriers is crucial for successful CNS drug delivery.