Blood-Brain-Barrier (BBB) Targeting Nanoparticulate Drug Delivery Modules to Treat Cerebrovascular Disorders: Current State of the Art

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) provides a protective shield for the human nervous system, facilitating essential biochemical processes while also acting as a strong defense mechanism against pathogens and harmful substances, including drugs. While this barrier protects the brain, it makes it difficult to deliver therapeutics to treat cerebral diseases such as ischemia and acute arterial thrombosis, both of which cause significant global mortality and morbidity. The urgent need for thrombolytic agents to treat cerebral ischemia emphasizes the importance of drugs that can efficiently penetrate the BBB. However, conventional thrombolytics have limitations due to low BBB permeability. To overcome this barrier, various nanoparticle-based targeting strategies have been developed. These nano-technological solutions provide advantages such as enhanced permeability, decreased toxicity risks, and increased bioavailability when compared to other drug delivery methods.