Title:Highly Organized Nanostructures for Brain Drug Delivery - New Hope or Just a Fad?
Volume: 12
Issue: 8
Author(s): K. Labuzek, K. Gorki, H. Jaroszek, K. Jarzabek, B. Gabryel and B. Okopien
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Blood brain barrier, brain drug delivery, drug delivery systems, nanocarriers, nanoparticles, nanotechnology.
Abstract: The blood-brain barrier significantly impedes treatment of central nervous system disorders by preventing drug
entry into the brain. Several strategies have been developed to overcome this problem, but progress has been hampered
due to a lack of efficacious drug delivery systems (DDS). Now, owing to DDS, therapeutic compounds can be transported
to the site of action and accumulate there. This modern approach allows one to decrease the required dose of drug and,
therefore, minimize toxicity and side effects. Also, treatment efficiency is increased. Highly organized nanostructures
made of biological, polymeric or carbon-based materials are promising carriers in drug delivery to the brain, due to their
unique and easily tailorable properties. The drug can be either attached to or entrapped in a carrier. To achieve greater site
specificity and selectivity, DDS can be also modified with suitable ligands, providing identification of the molecular site
of action. This review illustrates recent advances in using highly-organized structures: dendrimers, fullerenes, liposomes,
micelles, nanogels, nanoparticles and nanotubes for this purpose. We also discuss advantages and limitations of each
system.
