title: Drug delivery to the brain--realization by novel drug carriers.
abstract: Delivery of drugs to the brain is still a major challenge. Successful delivery across the bloodbrain barrier has only been achieved in some cases, e.g., using pro-drugs. The review describes the delivery to the brain using nanoparticulate drug carriers in combination with the novel targeting principle of "differential protein adsorption" (PathFinder technology). The PathFinder technology exploits proteins in the blood which adsorb onto the surface of intravenously injected carriers for targeting. Apolipoprotein E is the targeting moiety for the delivery of particles to the endothelials of the blood-brain barrier. To reach therapeutic drug level in the brain, nanoparticulate drug carriers with sufficiently high loading capacity are reviewed, including drug nanocrystals (nanosuspensions), lipid drug conjugate (LDC) nanoparticles and lipid nanoparticles (solid lipid nanoparticles-SLN, nanostructured lipid carriers-NLC). The features are described, including regulatory aspects and large scale production.
authors.affiliation: Pharmazeutische Technologie, Biotechnologie und Qualitätsmanagement, Freie Universität Berlin, 12169 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Cornelia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Keck
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010599:Pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations