Surgical Neurology
Volume 67, Issue 2 , Pages 113-116, February 2007

Nanotechnology approaches for drug and small molecule delivery across the blood brain barrier

  • Gabriel A. Silva, MSc, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Jacobs Retina Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037-0946, USA. Tel.: +1 858 822 4591; fax: +1 858 534 7985.

Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA

Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA

Neurosciences Program, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA

Received 15 August 2006; accepted 21 August 2006.

Abstract 

Nanotechnology involves the design, synthesis, and characterization of materials and devices that have a functional organization in at least one dimension on the nanometer (ie, one billionth of a meter) scale. One area in which nanotechnology may have a significant clinical impact in neuroscience is the selective transport and delivery of drugs and other small molecules across the blood brain barrier that cannot cross otherwise. Using a variety of nanoparticles composed of different chemical compositions, different groups are exploring proof-of-concept approaches for the delivery of different antineoplastic drugs, oligonucleotides, genes, and magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. This review discusses some of the main technical challenges associated with the development of nanotechnologies for delivery across the blood brain barrier and summarizes ongoing work.

Abbreviations: AFM, atomic force microscopy, BBB, blood-brain barrier, CNS, central nervous system, EAE, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, HAT, African trypanosomiasis, MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, NMDA, N-methyl-d-aspartate, PEG, polyethylene glycol, PLGA, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), TH, tyrosine hydroxylase

Keywords: Nanotechnology, CNS, Bioengineering, Blood-brain barrier, Drug delivery

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PII: S0090-3019(06)00696-3

doi:10.1016/j.surneu.2006.08.033

Surgical Neurology
Volume 67, Issue 2 , Pages 113-116, February 2007

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