Promising Nanotechnology Approaches in Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases of Central Nervous System

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that yields to neuronal axon damage, demyelization, and paralysis. Although several drugs were designed for the treatment of MS, with some of them being approved in the last few decades, the complete remission and the treatment of progressive forms still remain a matter of debate and a medical challenge. Nanotechnology provides a variety of promising therapeutic tools that can be applied for the treatment of MS, overcoming the barriers and the limitations of the already existing immunosuppressive and biological therapies. In the present review, we explore literature case studies on the development of drug delivery nanosystems for the targeted delivery of MS drugs in the pathological tissues of the CNS, providing high bioavailability and enhanced therapeutic efficiency, as well as nanosystems for the delivery of agents to facilitate efficient remyelination. Moreover, we present examples of tolerance-inducing nanocarriers, being used as promising vaccines for antigen-specific immunotherapy of MS. We emphasize on liposomes, as well as lipid- and polymer-based nanoparticles. Finally, we highlight the future perspectives given by the nanotechnology field toward the improvement of the current treatment of MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

Galactose Modified Liposomes for Effective Co-Delivery of Doxorubicin and Combretastatin A4

“…No obvious burst release was observed, indicating that nano-sized liposomes have sustained release properties. 29 At 48 hours, the cumulative drug releases from Gal-LPs were about 75% of CA4P and 45% of DOX, suggesting that, compared with hydrophobic DOX, CA4P has a higher release rate due to its hydrophobicity.…”

Reviewing the Significance of Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption in Multiple Sclerosis Pathology and Treatment

“…There is also an increasing interest in the delivery of active substances in the CNS: the use of nanoparticles, the invasive osmotic opening of the BBB, the use of 'Trojan horse' technology (using coupling therapeutic molecules with molecules that use the active transport system through BBB), and the intranasal administration of drugs bypassing BBB. All these initiatives have the main drawback of the quantitatively limited active substance that may be delivered in the CNS, but the presumed desired effects of neuroprotection may be achieved by directly involving the transit function of endothelial cells [9,157,158].…”

PLGA-Based Nanoparticles for Neuroprotective Drug Delivery in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…Nowadays, over a dozen therapeutic agents reducing the number of attacks and delaying MS progression are approved by the regulatory agencies. A few of them may be vectorized by PLGA NPs to treat some MS symptoms ( Table 2 ) [ 83 ].…”