Drug Permeation across the Blood-Brain Barrier: Applications of Nanotechnology
Marc Fakhoury, Ryusuke Takechi, Hani Al-Salami
Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research · pp. 547–556 · Published 31 Dec 2014
10.9734/BJMMR/2015/15493Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a neurobiological frontier that isolates brain tissues from the blood vascular system. Its main role is to protect the brain and the central nervous system from external fluctuations in hormones, nutrients and drugs, while allowing the passage of water and small lipophilic molecules. Diffusion across the BBB can occur through several biological mechanisms, but the most common one is simple diffusion, which mainly depends on the size, lipid solubility and concentration gradient of the molecule. Because of the highly dense network of capillary endothelium cells found in the BBB, most of the drugs are not able to cross this physiological barrier. Delivering therapeutic agents to the brain is thus a big challenge, which may prevent treatment of important neurological diseases. In order to overcome this difficulty, researchers have used nanotechnology to help the passage of drugs across the BBB. Nanotechnology has significantly contributed to the field of biotechnology by improving the strategies for drug delivery, and by providing novel carriers for safe and effective brain targeting. The aim of this review is to discuss in more details the anatomical structure and the functions of the BBB, as well as its significance in neurological diseases. A closer look will be given at the transport mechanisms across the BBB. This review finally explores the most recent advances in the field of nanotechnology for drug delivery in the brain, and gives meaningful examples of delivery systems developed including the micelles, liposomes, dendrimers, microcapsules and polymeric nanoparticles.
Cited by 25
Mohd Khan, Subuhi Sherwani, Saif Khan · Molecules · 2021
Syed Hammad Ali, Hiba Ali, Midhat Shafi · 3 Biotech · 2025
Nathania Nathania, Marson Putra, Agoes Willyono · 2025
Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik, Dominik Szwajgier · Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics · 2020
Bommanahalli Nagaraju Kumara, Palraj Kalimuthu, Kariate Sudhakara Prasad · ACS Applied Bio Materials · 2025
Vishwanath Kurawattimath, Barnabas Wilson, Kannoth Mukundan Geetha · OpenNano · 2023
Andrew Cappuccitti, Benjamin Daniels, Christina Galloro · Materials Horizons: From Nature to Nanomaterials · 2022
Daniel Mihai Teleanu, Cristina Chircov, Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu · Pharmaceutics · 2018
Nazeer Hussain Khan, Maria Mir, Ebenezeri Erasto Ngowi · Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology · 2021
Mohammad Ebrahim Abbaszadeh, Gila Pirzad Jahromi, Bohlol Habibi Asl · Journal of Drug Targeting · 2025
Showing 20 of 25 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.
Related research
- Patient Preferences for the Mode and Frequency of Drug Formulations for Treating Adults with Psoriatic Arthritis: A Systematic Review Protocol — shares topic coverage
- In vitro Membranous activity of Biosynthesized Gold Nanoparticle from Aqueous Leave Extract of Nelsonia canescens — shares topic coverage
- Applications of Thin Films in Ophthalmology — shares topic coverage
- Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Nanoparticles Formed from Cowry Shells and Acacia Gum Extracts — shares topic coverage
- Improving the Slow Release System Using Chitosan-Alginate Nanoparticles with Various Methods for Curcumin — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
0
Page views
0
PDF downloads
0
Outbound clicks
25
Citations
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
No views recorded yet.
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
No traffic recorded yet.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.