Abstract

INTRANASAL NIOSOMES: AN APPROACH FOR DRUG DELIVERY TO BRAIN

Dnyaneshwar G. Kautkar*, Dr. A.Y.Pawar, Dr. R. S. Bhamber

Abstract

Targeting drug molecules to brain is one of the most challenging research areas in pharmaceutical sciences. Drugs that are effective against diseases in the CNS and reach the brain via the blood compartment must have to pass the BBB. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) represents numberous obstaclefor a large number of drugs, including variety of CNS active drugs. Therefore, various strategies have proposed to improve the delivery ofdifferent drugs to this tissue which includes niosomes, colloidal drug carriers, micelles, chimericpeptide technology, intranasal and olfactory route of administration and nano technology. The discovery of niosome or lipid vesicle emerged from self forming enclosed lipid bi-layer upon hydration; noisome drug delivery systems have played a significant role in formulation of potent drug to improve therapeutics niosomes have been investigated as carriers of various pharmacologically active agents. Niosomes provide an efficient drug delivery system because they can alter the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the entrapped drugs. Niosomes have been widely used for brain delivery in vivo. Nowadays, the nasal route for systemic drug delivery has gained great interest. It provides several benefits over other routes of drug administrations, which includes rapid absorption, avoids intestinaland hepatic pre-systemic disposition and high potential for drug transfer to the CSF. Moreover, the nasalroute is a potential alternative route for systemic availability of drugs restricted to intravenous administration, such as peptide and protein drugs and vaccines. As well, intranasal route has also been successfully exploited for bypassing the blood brain barrier [BBB] and subsequently delivering drugmolecules to central nervous system [CNS].

Keywords: Nasal route, olfactory region, blood brain barrier, niosomes.