title: Colloidal supramolecular aggregates for therapeutic application in neuromedicine.
abstract: Neuromedicine has recently been emerging on the research scene and presents interesting challenges in therapeutics. The range of therapies generally used to treat neurological disorders are limited in their efficacy and degree of patient compliance because of the necessity of multiple drug dosages, low drug concentration in the central nervous system and side effects. Moreover, therapeutics require standard drug dosages which cannot be personalized. The limiting obstacle in neuromedicine is still the blood-brain barrier, which prevents the accumulation of endogenous and exogenous compounds inside the brain. Various transporters located on the blood-brain barrier modulate the crossing of endogenous compounds. It has been discovered that these transporters can be used as pathways for the transport of therapeutic agents and macromolecules that pass the blood-brain barrier allowing the uptake of bioactive compounds into the central nervous system. Several attempts have recently been made to develop forms of nanomedicine capable of overcoming the limitations of conventional therapy, above all the crossing of the blood-brain barrier. An outstandingly promising option could be the use of colloidal supramolecular aggregates. These nanodrugs are safe, biodegradable, and biocompatible and can combine biomaterials useful for diagnostic and therapeutical applications. They can be modified using monoclonal antibodies, proteins, peptides and macromolecules, thus providing personalized neuromedicine, which can be used in the treatment of various neurological disorders. In this review, recent advancements of supramolecular colloidal devices as neuromedicines are discussed, with particular focus on the latest developments.
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cosco
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Marzio
authors.forename: Carlotta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marianecci
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trapasso
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paolino
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celia
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carafa
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies, University of Rome "Sapienza", Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. maria.carafa@uniroma1.it.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fresta
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry; D050997:Nanomedicine; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D057900:Transcytosis
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003102:Colloids; D008081:Liposomes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010455:Peptides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface