Frontiers in Drug Delivery (Aug 2023)

Transnasal-brain delivery of nanomedicines for neurodegenerative diseases

  • Xu Zhang,
  • Maohua Wang,
  • Zhixian Liu,
  • Ying Wang,
  • Li Chen,
  • Jiaqi Guo,
  • Wentao Zhang,
  • Yao Zhang,
  • Chenjie Yu,
  • Tongwu Bie,
  • Youjun Yu,
  • Bing Guan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fddev.2023.1247162
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3

Abstract

Read online

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have become a serious global health problem as the population ages. Traditionally, treatment strategies for NDs have included oral and intravenous administration; however, the blood–brain barrier (BBB) can prevent drugs from reaching the brain, rendering the treatment incomplete and the effect unsatisfactory. Additionally, the prolonged or excessive use of drugs that can cross the BBB can damage liver and kidney function. Recent studies have shown that nose-to-brain drug delivery can noninvasively bypass the BBB, allowing drugs to enter the brain through the olfactory or trigeminal nerve pathways; additionally, nanoparticle carriers can enhance drug delivery. This review introduces drug carrier nanoparticles for nose-to-brain delivery systems, compares the advantages and disadvantages of different nanoparticles, and discusses the factors influencing nose-to-brain nanomedicine delivery and enhancement strategies. We also summarize nose-to-brain delivery and nanomedicines for treating NDs, the current challenges of this approach, and the future promise of nanomedicine-based ND treatment.

Keywords