An Elucidation of Contemporary Brain Targeting Tactics Employed in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Alsamarrai, Authman M.; El Zaafarany, Ghada M.; Kamel, Amany O.

doi:10.21608/aps.2023.253006.1151

An Elucidation of Contemporary Brain Targeting Tactics Employed in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

¹ Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tikrit University, Saladin, Iraq.

² Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt.

10.21608/aps.2023.253006.1151

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), a global growing concern, are posing significant social and economic challenges, making the efficient delivery of medications to the brain a pressing demand. Over the past decade, several strategies have been developed to facilitate brain targeting, with the aim of circumventing the formidable obstacle presented by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). These tactics encompass both non-invasive and invasive approaches, with the utilization of nanocarriers being increasingly prevalent due to the various advantages they offer. Likewise, the intranasal (IN) delivery of drugs is considered one of the most practical non-invasive techniques that can bypass the BBB, mitigating systemic adverse effects and reducing administered doses, in addition to, the added pros of greater bioavailability, and enhanced cerebral exposure at comparable oral doses. This review aims to elucidate recent approaches employed in the delivery of therapeutics to the brain, with a thorough emphasis on the IN route for targeted drug delivery.

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