Drug delivery to the brain – lipid nanoparticles-based approach
The complex structure of the human brain defines it as one of the most inaccessible organs in terms of drug delivery. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a microvascular network involved in transporting substances between the blood and the central nervous system (CNS) – enabling the entry of nu...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Pensoft Publishers
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Pharmacia |
| Online Access: | https://pharmacia.pensoft.net/article/98838/download/pdf/ |
| _version_ | 1811171888739647488 |
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| author | Viliana Gugleva Velichka Andonova |
| author_facet | Viliana Gugleva Velichka Andonova |
| author_sort | Viliana Gugleva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The complex structure of the human brain defines it as one of the most inaccessible organs in terms of drug delivery. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a microvascular network involved in transporting substances between the blood and the central nervous system (CNS) – enabling the entry of nutrients and simultaneously restricting the influx of pathogens and toxins. However, its role as a protective shield for CNS also restricts drug access to the brain. Since many drugs cannot cross the BBB due to unsuitable physicochemical characteristics (i.e., high molecular weight, aqueous solubility, etc.), different technological strategies have been developed to ensure sufficient drug bioavailability. Among these, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are promising approaches thanks to their lipid nature, facilitating their brain uptake, small sizes, and the possibilities for subsequent functionalization to achieve targeted delivery. The review focuses on applying SLNs and NLCs as nanocarriers for brain delivery, outlining the physiological factors of BBB and the physicochemical characteristics of nanocarriers influencing this process. Recent advances in this area have also been summarized. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:22:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-828359e69c414dff81bd84f18b119099 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2603-557X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T17:22:49Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Pensoft Publishers |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmacia |
| spelling | doaj.art-828359e69c414dff81bd84f18b1190992023-02-05T09:11:07ZengPensoft PublishersPharmacia2603-557X2023-02-0170111312010.3897/pharmacia.70.e9883898838Drug delivery to the brain – lipid nanoparticles-based approachViliana Gugleva0Velichka Andonova1Medical University of VarnaMedical University of VarnaThe complex structure of the human brain defines it as one of the most inaccessible organs in terms of drug delivery. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents a microvascular network involved in transporting substances between the blood and the central nervous system (CNS) – enabling the entry of nutrients and simultaneously restricting the influx of pathogens and toxins. However, its role as a protective shield for CNS also restricts drug access to the brain. Since many drugs cannot cross the BBB due to unsuitable physicochemical characteristics (i.e., high molecular weight, aqueous solubility, etc.), different technological strategies have been developed to ensure sufficient drug bioavailability. Among these, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are promising approaches thanks to their lipid nature, facilitating their brain uptake, small sizes, and the possibilities for subsequent functionalization to achieve targeted delivery. The review focuses on applying SLNs and NLCs as nanocarriers for brain delivery, outlining the physiological factors of BBB and the physicochemical characteristics of nanocarriers influencing this process. Recent advances in this area have also been summarized.https://pharmacia.pensoft.net/article/98838/download/pdf/ |
| spellingShingle | Viliana Gugleva Velichka Andonova Drug delivery to the brain – lipid nanoparticles-based approach Pharmacia |
| title | Drug delivery to the brain – lipid nanoparticles-based approach |
| title_full | Drug delivery to the brain – lipid nanoparticles-based approach |
| title_fullStr | Drug delivery to the brain – lipid nanoparticles-based approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drug delivery to the brain – lipid nanoparticles-based approach |
| title_short | Drug delivery to the brain – lipid nanoparticles-based approach |
| title_sort | drug delivery to the brain lipid nanoparticles based approach |
| url | https://pharmacia.pensoft.net/article/98838/download/pdf/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vilianagugleva drugdeliverytothebrainlipidnanoparticlesbasedapproach AT velichkaandonova drugdeliverytothebrainlipidnanoparticlesbasedapproach |