title: Neuroglia as targets for drug delivery systems: A review.
abstract: Targeted drug delivery within the nervous system is an emerging topic of research that involves designing and developing vehicular delivery systems that have the ability to target specific neuronal and non-neuronal cell types in the central and peripheral nervous system. Drugs, genetic material, or any other payloads can be loaded onto such delivery systems and could be used to treat, prevent or manage various neurological disorders. Currently, majority of studies in this field have been concentrated around targeted delivery to neurons. However, the non-neuronal cells within the nervous system, collectively called neuroglia, have been largely ignored, though it is well known that they play a significant role in the pathophysiology of almost all neurological disorders. In this review, we present current developments in the specific area of neuroglia targeted delivery systems and highlight the use of polymeric, metallic, liposomal and other delivery systems used for this purpose.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita University, Kochi, Kerala, India.
authors.forename: Pallavi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Madhusudanan
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita University, Kochi, Kerala, India; Manchester Medical School, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reade
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amrita University, Kochi, Kerala, India. Electronic address: sahadevs@aims.amrita.edu.
authors.forename: Sahadev A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shankarappa
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles; D009422:Nervous System Diseases; D009457:Neuroglia; D009474:Neurons; D011108:Polymers
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D011108:Polymers
keywords: Astrocytes; Microglia; Nanoparticles; Neuroglia; Toxicity