Nanoformulations: A Progressive Strategy for Alleviating Migraine through Nasal Route

Migraine is a chronic neurological disorder that can significantly interfere with day-to-day functioning. Currently, migraine is treated with various drugs administered via oral or parenteral routes; however, conventional drug delivery methods have several limitations. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a major obstacle for effective drug delivery to the central nervous system. To overcome these drawbacks, the intranasal (IN) route has emerged as a preferred alternative. Intranasal delivery offers a promising approach for targeting drugs to the brain, bypassing the limitations of oral and parenteral administration. However, this route also presents challenges, such as limited nasal volume, particle size restrictions, and molecular weight constraints of drugs. Notably, nanoparticle-based technologies have shown significant potential in overcoming these challenges, enhancing drug accumulation in the brain while minimizing systemic distribution.

This review article was compiled through a thorough survey of recent research and review articles focused on CNS-targeted drug delivery via the nasal route. The literature search was conducted using databases and sources including PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, WHO publications, and relevant books. Keywords used for the search included: Neurological disorders, Migraine, Novel approaches, Nose-to-brain delivery, Challenges, and Nanoformulations.

The reviewed studies demonstrate that various nanoformulations significantly enhance the brain delivery of anti-migraine drugs via the intranasal route. These delivery systems improve drug bioavailability, provide a faster onset of action, and achieve better therapeutic outcomes compared to conventional administration methods.

Intranasal nanoformulations represent a promising strategy to overcome the limitations associated with conventional oral and parenteral migraine therapies by facilitating direct nose-tobrain transport. These systems enhance brain targeting while reducing systemic exposure and adverse effects. Various nanocarriers such as SLNs, NLCs, nanoemulsions, and liposomes have demonstrated improved permeability, sustained release, and therapeutic efficacy.