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Published on: July 16, 2014
Challenges in Brain Drug Delivery for Neurodegenerative Disorders and Recent Trends: A Review
Ashif Anjukandan1, Rajaganapathy Kaliyaperumal2
1Faculty of Pharmacy, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Novel drug delivery systems are crucial for treating neurodegenerative disorders, overcoming the blood-brain barrier (BBB) challenge. This review explores advanced strategies for effective targeted drug therapy in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Neurodegenerative disorders involve progressive neuronal loss, impacting brain function across all age groups.
- Dementias and motor system impairments characterize many neurodegenerative diseases.
- The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a significant obstacle for effective drug delivery to the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review neurodegenerative disorders and their impact.
- To discuss the anatomical and physiological challenges of drug delivery across the BBB.
- To explore novel drug delivery systems and targeted therapies for neurological conditions.
Main Methods:
- A critical literature review was performed using Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and PubMed.
- Search terms included "blood-brain barrier," "neurodegenerative disorders," "novel drug delivery system," and "targeted drug therapy."
Main Results:
- Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDD) affect the nervous system, muscles, and nerve-muscle junctions, encompassing conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
- Conventional treatments for neurological diseases have limited efficacy due to the BBB's restrictive nature.
- Effective brain drug delivery strategies include nanocarrier systems, intranasal administration, and focused ultrasound.
Conclusions:
- This review synthesizes information on neurodegenerative disorders.
- It highlights the critical role of the BBB in limiting therapeutic interventions.
- It discusses innovative strategies to overcome drug delivery barriers for improved neurological treatment.
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