Antiparkinsonian Agents in Investigational Polymeric Micro- and Nano-Systems

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive destruction of dopaminergic tissue in the central nervous system (CNS). To date, there is no cure for the disease, with current pharmacological treatments aimed at controlling the symptoms. Therefore, there is an unmet need for new treatments for PD. In addition to new therapeutic options, there exists the need for improved efficiency of the existing ones, as many agents have difficulties in crossing the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to achieve therapeutic levels in the CNS or exhibit inappropriate pharmacokinetic profiles, thereby limiting their clinical benefits. To overcome these limitations, an interesting approach is the use of drug delivery systems, such as polymeric microparticles (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) that allow for the controlled release of the active ingredients targeting to the desired site of action, increasing the bioavailability and efficacy of treatments, as well as reducing the number of administrations and adverse effects. Here we review the polymeric micro- and nano-systems under investigation as potential new therapies for PD.

Application of Starch, Cellulose, and Their Derivatives in the Development of Microparticle Drug-Delivery Systems

“…The main challenges in their development are related to achieving stability, uniform particle size, controlling the rate and site of drug release, and scaling up. The rapid development in recent years in this area of drug technology is undeniable proof of the advantages of such microcarrier systems and the numerous possibilities they can offer [4][5][6][7].…”