Nanotechnology for Delivery of Drugs to the Brain for Epilepsy

Abstract

Epilepsy results from aberrant electrical activity that can affect either a focal area or the entire brain. In treating epilepsy with drugs, the aim is to decrease seizure frequency and severity while minimizing toxicity to the brain and other tissues. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are usually administered by oral and intravenous (IV) routes, but these drug treatments are not always effective. Drug access to the brain is severely limited by a number of biological factors, particularly the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which impedes the ability of AEDs to enter and remain in the brain. To improve the efficacy of AEDs, new drug delivery strategies are being developed; these methods fall into the three main categories: drug modification, BBB modification, and direct drug delivery. Recently, all three methods have been improved through the use of drug-loaded nanoparticles.

Recent Advances in Drug Delivery Systems

“…the synergy between the distribution and signaling of antibodies). As a result, per example, once IV injection occurs, nanoparticles are cleared from the plasma within a few minutes due to opsonization and subsequent phagocytosis by the cells of the RES [81]. Opsonization can be reduced by applying some surface ligands.…”

“…Nanovectoring with tissue-specific targets is an ideal pathway since it delivers both hydro-and lipophilic drugs, as well as macromolecules such as peptides and genes through a controlled release profile over an extended period of time [5,81,102]. Since nanoparticles are small in size, they easily penetrate into small capillaries and through the physical restrictions presented by the brain interstitial space.…”

“…Since nanoparticles are small in size, they easily penetrate into small capillaries and through the physical restrictions presented by the brain interstitial space. Consequently, they can be transported within cells, allowing an efficient drug accumulation at targeted sites in the body [81,102]. However, nanoparticles cannot freely diffuse through the BBB and require receptor-mediated transporters [103].…”

Electroresponsive Nanoparticles Improve Antiseizure Effect of Phenytoin in Generalized Tonic-Clonic Seizures

“…In the last few years, although numerous drug delivery carriers that can transport AEDs to the brain have been developed, including polymeric nanoparticles [5], polymeric micelles [6], and dendrimers [7], few of these carriers have advanced based on the pathological characteristics of epileptic seizures. We previously designed electroresponsive hydrogel nanoparticles (ERHNP) based on the abnormal electrical activity characteristics of epileptic seizures, and further modified ERHNP with the brain-targeting angiopep-2 peptide (ANG), a ligand of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein, to improve penetration of the BBB [8].…”

Development and characterization of pioglitazone loaded liposphere for the effective treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2

“…The aim of the present study was to assess the feasibility of formulating lipospheres of Pioglitazone HCl by melt dispersion technique and obtaining a suitable release pattern. [1][2][3][4][5] cetyl alcohol, gelatin were purchased from S.D. Fine Chemicals Ltd. (India).…”