title: Nanocomposites for neurodegenerative diseases: hydrogel-nanoparticle combinations for a challenging drug delivery.
abstract: Neurodegenerative disorders are expected to strike social and health care systems of developed countries heavily in the coming decades. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases (AD/PD) are the most prevalent neurodegenerative pathologies, and currently their available therapy is only symptomatic. However, innovative potential drugs are actively under development, though their efficacy is sometimes limited by poor brain bioavailability and/or sustained peripheral degradation. To partly overcome these constraints, the development of drug delivery devices made by biocompatible and easily administrable materials might be a great adjuvant. In particular, materials science can provide a powerful tool to design hydrogels and nanoparticles as basic components of more complex nanocomposites that might ameliorate drug or cell delivery in AD/PD. This kind of approach is particularly promising for intranasal delivery, which might increase brain targeting of neuroprotective molecules or proteins. Here we review these issues, with a focus on nanoparticles as nanocomponents able to carry and tune drug release in the central nervous system, without ignoring warnings concerning their potential toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering, G. Natta, Politecnico di Milano, Milan - Italy. carmen.giordano@polimi.it
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albani
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gloria
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tunesi
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodilossi
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forloni
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ambrosio
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cigada
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004339:Drug Compounding; D006801:Humans; D020100:Hydrogels; D053761:Nanocomposites; D053758:Nanoparticles; D036103:Nanotechnology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D020100:Hydrogels; D011108:Polymers