Title:Recent Trends in Nano-Particulate Carriers for the Diagnosis and Treatment
of Alzheimer’s Disease
Volume: 22
Issue: 4
Author(s): Farhan Mazahir and Awesh K. Yadav*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Raebareli, India
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid β, tau-protein, nanoparticles, heat shock protein, sensors.
Abstract:
Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the presence of aggregated
amyloid fibers, neurodegeneration, and loss of memory. Although "Food and Drug Administration"
(FDA) approved drugs are available to treat AD, drugs that target AD have limited access to the brain
and cause peripheral side effects. These peripheral side effects are the results of exposure of peripheral
organs to the drugs. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a very sophisticated biological barrier that allows
the selective permeation of various molecules or substances. This selective permeation by the
BBB is beneficial and protects the brain from unwanted and harmful substances. However, this kind of
selective permeation hinders the access of therapeutic molecules to the brain. Thus, a peculiar drug delivery
system (nanocarriers) is required.
Objective: Due to selective permeation of the “blood-brain barrier,” nanoparticulate carriers may provide
special services to deliver the drug molecules across the BBB. This review article is an attempt to
present the role of different nanocarriers in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Methods: Peer-reviewed and appropriate published articles were collected for the relevant information.
Result: Nanoparticles not only traverse the blood-brain barrier but may also play roles in the detection
of amyloid β, diagnosis, and drug delivery.
Conclusion: Based on published literature, it could be concluded that nano-particulate carriers may
traverse the blood-brain barrier via the transcellular pathway, receptor-mediated endocytosis,
transcytosis, and may enhance the bioavailability of drugs to the brain. Hence, peripheral side effects
could be avoided.