Liposomes for Targeted Delivery of Active Agents against Neurodegenerative Diseases (Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's Disease)

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease represent a huge unmet medical need. The prevalence of both diseases is increasing, but the efficacy of treatment is still very limited due to various factors including the blood brain barrier (BBB). Drug delivery to the brain remains the major challenge for the treatment of all neurodegenerative diseases because of the numerous protective barriers surrounding the central nervous system. New therapeutic drugs that cross the BBB are critically needed for treatment of many brain diseases. One of the significant factors on neurotherapeutics is the constraint of the blood brain barrier and the drug release kinetics that cause peripheral serious side effects. Contrary to common belief, neurodegenerative and neurological diseases may be multisystemic in nature, and this presents numerous difficulties for their potential treatment. Overall, the aim of this paper is to summarize the last findings and news related to liposome technology in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and demonstrate the potential of this technology for the development of novel therapeutics and the possible applications of liposomes in the two most widespread neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

Nano-based drug delivery system

“…Table 6. The advantages and disadvantages of liposomes [190][191][192][193][194][195][196][197][198] …”

Caspases: A Potential Therapeutic Targets in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Drug delivery to the brain remains the major challenge for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease because of the barriers surrounding the central nervous system. The new therapeutic drugs that cross the BBB are critically required for treatment of several brain diseases including alzheimer's disease [44]. Nanoparticles drug delivery systems including liposomes, polymers, and other nanoparticles may be able to provide the potential solutions to improve neurodegeneration therapeutics.…”

In vitro evaluation of cationic liposomal delivery of BDNF expressing plasmid DNA in experimental model of Parkinson's disease

“…In the developed world neurodegenerative diseases has climbed to the fourth leading cause of death. [1] Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurological disease, with typical symptoms of tremors, stiffness and slow or hesitant speech. Though it is most commonly associated with elder people, it is thought that around one in ten people are diagnosed before the age of 50.…”

“…There are now nearly 1.2 million people suffering from Parkinson's disease in Europe and over 1 million in the United States. [1] Death of dopamine-generating neurons in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra is the main causative factor in the development of these motor symptoms leading to a decline in the levels of dopamine. Misfolding and intracellular aggregation of synuclein fibrils, known as Lewy bodies, are critical to PD neuropathogenesis along with mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.…”

“…[1] Thus, in this manner plasmid DNA expressing BDNF would serve as a good choice of therapy in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.…”