Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2026

Reconstruction of the Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro to Model and Therapeutically Target Neurological Disease
Published on: October 20, 2023
Overcoming the blood-brain barrier for therapeutics targeting neurodegenerative diseases: a patent review
Daowei Huang1, Roujun Lu2, Ruijing Tang1
1School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China.
Introduction:
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts drug entry into the CNS, with most therapeutics showing <1% brain penetration, limiting efficacy in neurodegenerative diseases.
Areas Covered:
Patents (2020-2026) were retrieved from SciFinder, Web of Science, PubMed, and Reaxys using combinations of 'blood-brain barrier,' 'brain delivery,' and neurodegenerative disease terms. Technologies were included if supported by in vitro or in vivo BBB‑penetration evidence for neurodegenerative indications; purely computational, non‑English untranslated, and non‑targeted conventional formulation patents were excluded. Eligible patents were classified into protein/antibody‑based, small molecule, nanocarrier, physical‑assisted, permeability enhancer, and emerging technology categories.
Expert Opinion:
Receptor-mediated transcytosis, dual-targeting ligands, and ultrasound opening are enhancing delivery precision; emerging systems (small molecules, peptides, nanozymes) combine penetration with target inhibition, overcoming traditional bottlenecks and accelerating clinical translation.
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