Modeling brain pathology to study nose-to-brain drug delivery

To create a new mucoadhesive dosage form based on PluronicF127 followed by transformation into a gel form upon intranasal administration for targeted delivery to brain tissueMETHODS: Citicoline, cytidine diphosphocholine, designated as CDP-choline, was purchased as a white powder with the molecular weight of 510.31 g/mol. The triblock copolymers of polyethylene glycol-block-polypropylene glycol-block-polyethylene glycol (PEG-PPG-PEG), branded as Pluronic F127, was used.

When instilled into the nasal cavity, Pluronic F127 for intranasal administration is transformed into a gel that remains retained for 45-55 minutes, which promotes better penetration of drugs into the brain tissue.

The polymer's gelling and adhesive properties performed well, which is crucial for further research at the preclinical stage (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 28).