Intranasal delivery of rotigotine to the brain for treating Parkinson’s disease

The development of sustainable and non-invasive method for delivering drugs to the brain is crucial for the effective treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, nanoparticles were formulated by using poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly (propylene glycol)-block-poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG-<i>b</i>-PPG-<i>b</i>-PEG) to facilitate an efficient intranasal delivery of rotigotine directly into the brain. It was found that the intranasal route enabled more effective accumulation of rotigotine in the brain than conventional intravenous administration, demonstrating its feasibility as an innovative delivery approach for PD treatment. Furthermore, the behavioral test, brain histology and immunochemistry analyses demonstrated a significant improvement in the symptoms of PD-like neurodegeneration in mice treated with intranasally delivered rotigotine-loaded nanoparticles. These outcomes affirm an outstanding therapeutic efficacy of the nano-formulation for intranasal delivery, highlighting its potential for the effective treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly PD.