Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026

A Human Blood-Brain Interface Model to Study Barrier Crossings by Pathogens or Medicines and Their Interactions with the Brain
Published on: April 9, 2019
Blood-Brain Barrier: Structure, Function, Diseases, and Drug Delivery Systems
Yanan He1, Mengyao Qu1, Lu Yu1
1Department of Anesthesiology The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital Beijing China.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) protects the brain but hinders drug delivery. This review explores innovative strategies to overcome BBB challenges for treating neurological disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a critical neurovascular interface.
- It protects the central nervous system but impedes therapeutic access.
- BBB dysfunction is linked to major neurological diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review BBB structure, function, and role in disease.
- To evaluate novel drug delivery strategies for brain disorders.
- To identify future research directions for BBB therapeutics.
Main Methods:
- Systematic examination of BBB organization and function.
- Analysis of passive and active drug targeting approaches.
- Evaluation of stimuli-responsive systems and nanoplatforms.
Main Results:
- BBB restricts over 98% of small molecules and nearly all large molecules.
- BBB dysfunction is implicated in stroke, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, MS, and brain tumors.
- Various strategies show promise for enhancing brain drug delivery.
Conclusions:
- Overcoming the BBB is crucial for treating neurological diseases.
- Innovative approaches like nanoplatforms and focused ultrasound offer potential.
- Further research and clinical translation are needed for next-generation therapeutics.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Blood-brain Barrier
Physiological Barriers
The blood endothelial barrier is the most porous of these. It allows all small ionized, un-ionized, and lipophilic molecules to pass through the endothelial lining into the interstitial space...
Factors Affecting Drug Distribution: Physiological Barriers
The capillary endothelial barrier allows only smaller molecules below 600 Da (Daltons) to pass through. It also restricts drugs like heparin that are bound to blood components, limiting their movement within the bloodstream.
The...
Cellular Membranes and Drug Transport
Phospholipids arrange themselves into a bilayer, with hydrophilic heads oriented outward and hydrophobic tails facing inward.
Transcellular Transport of Solutes
Drug Distribution: Overview
Initially, the free drug in the...

