Title:Genetics of Dravet Syndrome and its Targeted Therapy by Nanomedicine:
A Roadmap for Future Treatment of Drug Resistant Seizures
Volume: 16
Author(s): Muhammad Ikram*Sufian Rasheed
Affiliation:
- International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi 75270, Pakistan
Keywords:
Epilepsy, Dravet syndrome (DS), genetics, drug-resistant, treatment, nanoparticles.
Abstract: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), epilepsy is the 4th most prevalent
neurological disorder after migraine, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. There are numerous
types of epileptic syndrome that are reported in children; one of them is Dravet syndrome. It is a
neurological disorder of infants’ outset during the first year of life. Dravet syndrome is a genetically
determined syndrome and the most studied form of genetic epilepsy. Nearly 70-80% of its
cases are due to genetic alterations in the SCN1A gene, and almost 16% of cases are due to variations
in the PCDH19 gene. Besides that, mutations in SCN1B, SCN2A, and GABRG2, including
some novel genes, STXBP1, HCN1, and CDH2 have been observed in DS patients. It is a
drug-resistant epileptic syndrome and its complete removal is still challenging. So, novel therapeutic
techniques are being used to treat drug-resistant seizures. Recently, new strategies have
been made to improve the neuron-specific targeting of AEDs encapsulated by nanocarriers. The
nanocarriers will have a major contribution to nano-neuro medicines such as drug delivery, neuroimaging,
neuroprotection, neurosurgery, and neuroregeneration. The nanotechnology-mediated
techniques also have a fantastic success rate in gene therapy, as reported in recent years. The anti-
epileptic drug delivery with the help of nanoparticles, at the targeted position, makes them applicable
for the possible treatment of drug-resistant seizures and gives new hope to patients affected
with it.
