Carboxymethyl chitosan for neurological drug delivery: Current trends and future prospects

The complexity of drug delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease(PD), brain tumors, and other neurodegenerative conditions, a growing global health burden. Poor brain bioavailability and systemic side effects are common problems with traditional therapies. Delivery systems based on nanotechnology have shown promise as solutions to these problems. These include carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), a water-soluble, biocompatible, and biodegradable chitosan derivative that has drawn a lot of interest because of its increased stability, mucoadhesiveness, improved solubility at physiological pH, and ability to encapsulate and release targeted drugs. CMC-based nanocarriers are perfect for treating a variety of conditions because they have shown promise in increasing therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity. Recently developed CMC-based drug delivery systems for CNS disorders are examined critically in this review, with an emphasis on their design, biological performance, targeting techniques, and potential for clinical translation in the future. Their multifunctional qualities, in vitro and in vivo evidence, and their function in regulating neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal regeneration are given particular attention.