Peptide Vector-Mediated Drug Delivery to the Brain

摘要

Delivery of drugs to the nervous system remains a challenge despite remarkable advances in our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the development of the brain diseases and the actions of neuroactive agents. Drug accessibility to the central nervous system is limited by the blocd-brain barrier that is formed by brain capillary endothelial cells. Since the endothelial cells are connected to each other by tight junctions, compounds must cross the membranes of the cells to enter the brain from the bloodstream. Therefore, hydrophilic compounds cannot cross the barrier in the absence of specific mechanisms such as membrane transporters or endocytosis. The BBB is, therefore, the major obstacle to drugs that are potentially useful for combating diseases affecting the CNS. Extensive efforts have been made to deve op CNS drug delivery strategies in order to enhance delivery of therapeutic molecules across the BBB. One approach to overcoming the BBB is to transport drugs via peptide vector-mediated strategy.