Nanotechnology-based Approaches for Nose -to- Brain Delivery of Antipsychotics

Abstract

Neuropsychiatric disorders are one of the major neurodegenerative disorders that affect people. These disorders could be treated effectively by targeting drugs to the brain and overcoming the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Nanotechnology has proven its worth in targeting and delivering drug molecules to the target site. Various nanocarrier formulations have been utilized tremendously to target drugs to the brain via the intranasal pathway and have shown significant results in treating the disorders, since this pathway has emerged as a promising non–invasive alternative way of directly offering the drug to the brain via the olfactory and trigeminal pathway, which also bypasses systemic circulation and the hepatic first- pass effects. Nanotherapeutic approaches enhance the bioavailability, biodegradability, and protection of drug molecules from enzymatic degradation in nanoformulations; that is, they prevent enzymatic degradation of the drug. Moreover, these nanostructures have customizable surface properties that enable controlled drug release, thereby increasing targeting efficiency and leading to sustained therapeutic action. The current review focuses on the intranasal route of administration and shows nano formulations are effectively delivered to the brain via this route. This review provides readers with an insight into how different nano-carrier-based formulations, such as polymeric-based nanoparticles, nano-lipid carriers, nano-emulsions, and solid lipid nanocarriers, enhance drug bioavailability, target affinity, and overcome first-pass metabolism, and also highlights the recent advancements and formulation approaches to optimize drug targeting to the brain in order to manage complex neurological disorders.