Title: In vitro blood brain barrier models as a screening tool for colloidal drug delivery systems and other nanosystems

Authors: Aude Garcel, Sophie Martel, Pierre Alain Carrupt, Eric Doelker, Florence Delie

Addresses: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. ' School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. ' School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. ' School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. ' School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Quai Ernest-Ansermet 30, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland

Abstract: The brain is one of the least accessible organs of the body due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), thus making drug delivery to the brain quite a challenge. Various strategies have been explored to circumvent this physiological barrier, including the use of colloidal carriers. These carriers hold great promise as they may increase the delivery of drugs into the brain by protecting them from degradation and prolonging their circulation in the blood, as well as promoting their transport through the BBB. Moreover, functionalisation of these carriers with various ligands allows specific targeting of the central nervous system compartment. Additionally, various in vitro BBB models have been developed and are increasingly useful for screening of drug delivery systems, especially cell-based models that provide mechanistic information. In fact, this paper specifically reviews selected in vitro BBB models as a screening tool for drug delivery colloidal systems.

Keywords: drug delivery; colloidal systems; nanocarriers; nanoparticles; liposomes; micelles; blood-brain barrier; BBB; in vitro models; screening tools; nanotechnology; human brain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBNN.2010.034650

International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2010 Vol.1 No.2/3/4, pp.133 - 163

Published online: 13 Aug 2010 *

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