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Current Status of Polysaccharides-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Nervous Tissue Injuries Repair
Caterina Valentino1, Barbara Vigani1, Giuseppina Sandri1
1Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
Polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) show promise for treating spinal cord injury (SCI) and peripheral nerve injury (PNI). Chitosan-based DDSs, combined with other polymers, are particularly highlighted for nervous system repair.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine
- Biomaterials Science
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) disorders, including spinal cord injury (SCI) and peripheral nerve injury (PNI), present significant therapeutic challenges.
- Current treatments for SCI and PNI often result in irreversible sensory, motor, and autonomic impairments, necessitating advanced therapeutic strategies.
- The development of effective treatments for neurological damage remains a critical area of research due to the limited recovery potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) for the repair and regeneration of the nervous system.
- To focus specifically on the application of these DDSs in treating spinal cord and peripheral nerve injuries.
- To provide an overview of the most studied polysaccharides utilized in these advanced therapeutic systems.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of scientific publications on polysaccharide-based drug delivery systems.
- Analysis of studies focusing on the use of chitosan, alginate, dextran, agarose, cellulose, and gellan in DDSs for neurological repair.
- Evaluation of the physical-chemical properties and applications of these polysaccharides in the context of SCI and PNI.
Main Results:
- Polysaccharides exhibit advantageous physical-chemical properties making them suitable for DDS development.
- Chitosan-based DDSs, often in combination with other polysaccharides like alginate, dextran, agarose, cellulose, and gellan, are extensively studied for nerve regeneration.
- These DDSs show potential for enhancing therapeutic efficacy in treating SCI and PNI.
Conclusions:
- Polysaccharide-based DDSs represent a promising avenue for addressing the limitations of current therapies for SCI and PNI.
- Further research into chitosan and its composite DDSs is warranted for advancing nervous system repair strategies.
- These biomaterials offer a viable platform for drug delivery aimed at improving functional recovery after neurological injury.
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