The Bombay Technologist

Intranasal Drug Delivery: An Approach for Brain Targeting

Sumit Pravin Tated

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology Department

Ameya Sanjay Kulkarni

Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology Department

Keywords: Intranasal Drug Delivery, Olfactory Pathway, Brain Targeting, Nasal Drug Formulation.

---

Abstract

Many drugs are not being effectively and efficiently delivered using conventional drug delivery approach to the brain or central nervous system (CNS) due to its complexity. The brain and the central nervous system both have limited accessibility to blood compartment due to a number of barriers. Rich vasculature and a highly permeable structure of the nasal mucosa along with several other benefits promises intranasal drug delivery system as an interesting alternative for achieving therapeutic drug effects. If the drug is administered in the olfactory region of the nasal cavity, it can bypass the blood brain barrier (BBB) and target the brain. Various models have been designed and studied by scientists to establish the qualitative and quantitative transport through nasal mucosa to brain, which promises the existence of a direct pathway between nose and brain as studies suggests. However, the development of nasal drug products for brain targeting is still faced with enormous challenges. A better understanding in terms of properties of the drug candidate, nose to brain transport mechanisms, and transport to and within the brain is of utmost importance. In the future, this can be used for treatment of brain and CNS diseases like Alzheimer's disease. This review will discuss some pertinent issues to be considered and challenges to brain targeted intranasal drug delivery.