title: Current approaches to enhance CNS delivery of drugs across the brain barriers.
abstract: Although many agents have therapeutic potentials for central nervous system (CNS) diseases, few of these agents have been clinically used because of the brain barriers. As the protective barrier of the CNS, the blood-brain barrier and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier maintain the brain microenvironment, neuronal activity, and proper functioning of the CNS. Different strategies for efficient CNS delivery have been studied. This article reviews the current approaches to open or facilitate penetration across these barriers for enhanced drug delivery to the CNS. These approaches are summarized into three broad categories: noninvasive, invasive, and miscellaneous techniques. The progresses made using these approaches are reviewed, and the associated mechanisms and problems are discussed.
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cui-Tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Hainan Medical College, Haikou City, Hainan Province, People's Republic of China ; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying-Zheng
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Ho Lun
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville School of Medicine Louisville, KY, USA.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Hainan Medical College, Haikou City, Hainan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xin-Qiao
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D053769:Nanocapsules / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D053769:Nanocapsules
keywords: blood–brain barrier (BBB); brain-targeted therapy; central nervous system; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); drug delivery system