In a press release dated January 18, 2024, researchers have announced a significant advancement in the methodology of drug delivery for Alzheimer’s disease treatment. This groundbreaking innovation involves a dissolving microneedle patch that enhances the administration of drugs directly from the nose to the brain. This novel approach promises to overcome the limitations confronted by conventional routes of administering medication to the brain, such as the nasal mucosal barriers and nasal cilia clearance. The findings of this research have been documented in the ‘Journal of Controlled Release,’ the official publication of the Controlled Release Society, in an article titled “Microneedle-mediated nose-to-brain drug delivery for improved Alzheimer’s disease treatment” (DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.01.013).
Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, has plagued millions of individuals globally, leading to memory loss and cognitive decline. Traditional therapeutic strategies often fail to provide effective treatment due to the challenges of delivering drugs across the blood-brain barrier and guaranteeing targeted delivery to the affected areas of the brain. The revolutionary development of the microneedle-mediated nose-to-brain drug delivery system represents a promising frontier in the battle against this devastating disease.
The innovative research led by a team at the School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has brought forth a new paradigm in drug delivery technology. The study, co-authored by Shuyao Ruan, Jiaqi Li, Hang Ruan, Qing Xia, Xiaolin Hou, Zhi Wang, Teng Guo, Chunyun Zhu, Nianping Feng, and Yongtai Zhang, involved designing a ‘toothbrush-like’ microneedle patch for the transnasal administration of medication. This patch features microneedles made from hyaluronic acid and a base formed from tannic acid-crosslinked gelatin. When applied, it dissolves in the nasal mucosa swiftly, releasing its payload without impacting the nasal cilia and preserving the native nasal microbial ecology.
The authors integrated nanotechnology, capitalizing on the properties of cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) to serve as nanocarriers for the drug huperzine A. These carriers, bolstered with stigmasterol and functionalized with lactoferrin, exhibited exceptional physical stability and superb biocompatibility, enabling an efficient vehicle to transport therapeutic agents to the brain.
The approach is particularly advantageous, circumventing the drug degradation or clearance issues that usually affect orally ingested medications or those delivered through the bloodstream. By navigating directly into the brain, the strategy appears to drastically reduce systemic side effects while at the same time achieving a higher concentration of the drug in the target organ.
The nose-to-brain delivery system detailed in this study indicates that the microneedle patches were successful in delivering a higher drug concentration to the brain compared to conventional administration methods. Not only does this innovative technology point towards a more effective treatment modality for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, but it also opens new avenues for the delivery of a broad range of therapeutic compounds to the brain.
The research details and results were subjected to a rigorous peer-review process and were published on January 17, 2024, reinforcing the credibility and scientific rigor behind the findings. The authors have also declared no competing interests, assuring the scientific community of the objectivity and transparency of their research.
This breakthrough paves the way for a shift in how we perceive drug delivery, especially for conditions where the blood-brain barrier presents a significant obstacle. While further research and clinical trials are needed to validate these findings and assess the long-term effects and potential therapeutic benefits in human populations, the implications for patients with Alzheimer’s disease could be profound.
Moreover, this technology holds the potential to be adapted for other neurological disorders where targeted delivery to the brain could enhance treatment outcomes. The technique’s non-invasive nature and the promise of minimal side effects also mean that it could be favorable for patient compliance, contributing to more consistent therapeutic regimens.
References
1. Ruan, S., Li, J., Ruan, H., Xia, Q., Hou, X., Wang, Z., … Zhang, Y. (2024). Microneedle-mediated nose-to-brain drug delivery for improved Alzheimer’s disease treatment. Journal of Controlled Release: Official Journal of the Controlled Release Society, 366, 712-731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.01.013
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3. Patel, Z., Patel, B., Patel, S., & Pardhi, D. M. (2019). Recent advances in the development of microneedle for transdermal drug delivery. Journal of Pharmacy & BioAllied Sciences, 11(2), 112–119. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpbs.JPBS_122_19
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Keywords
1. Alzheimer’s disease treatment
2. Microneedle drug delivery
3. Nose-to-brain drug transit
4. Advanced drug delivery systems
5. Targeted neurological therapies