Abstract

This advanced review describes the anatomical and physiological barriers and mechanisms impacting nanomedicine translocation from the nasal cavity directly to the brain. There are significant physiological and anatomical differences in the nasal cavity, olfactory area, and airflow reaching the olfactory epithelium between humans and experimentally studied species that should be considered when extrapolating experimental results to humans. Mucus, transporters, and tight junction proteins present barriers to material translocation across the olfactory epithelium. Uptake of nanoparticles through the olfactory mucosa and translocation to the brain can be intracellular via cranial nerves (intraneuronal) or other cells of the olfactory epithelium, or extracellular along cranial nerve pathways (perineural) and surrounding blood vessels (perivascular, the glymphatic system). Transport rates vary greatly among the nose to brain pathways. Nanomedicine physicochemical properties (size, surface charge, surface coating, and particle stability) can affect uptake efficiency, which is usually less than 5%. Incorporation of therapeutic agents in nanoparticles has been shown to produce pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic benefits. Assessment of adverse effects has included olfactory mucosa toxicity, ciliotoxicity, and olfactory bulb and brain neurotoxicity. The results have generally suggested the investigated nanomedicines do not present significant toxicity. Research needs to advance the understanding of nanomedicine translocation and its drug cargo after intranasal administration is presented.

This article is categorized under:

  • Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease
  • Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
  • Toxicology and Regulatory Issues in Nanomedicine > Toxicology of Nanomaterials

Document Type

Review

Publication Date

12-26-2021

Notes/Citation Information

Published in Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology.

© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Yokel, R. A. (2021). Direct nose to the brain nanomedicine delivery presents a formidable challenge. WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/wnan.1767. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1002/wnan.1767

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