Iranian Researchers Use Modified Nanogels for Drug Delivery to Brain

Pharmaceutical researchers from Tehran and Zanjan Universities of Medical Sciences optimized the drug therapy of brain tumors by improving the process of diffusion and penetration of methotrexate into the central neural system by using nanogel carriers.

By using these nanogels, they delivered drugs into the brain in low doze with more effectiveness and less side effects.

According to the researchers of the plan, the outside-body evaluation tests, including particle size, particle size distribution, surface charges, morphology, chemical assessment, and studying drug release on the produced nanogels have already been carried out. The tests generally confirmed that the nanogels were desirable to carry medicine into the central nerves. Moreover, the nanogels showed an appropriate behavior in outside-body drug release.

Hydrogel nanoparticles possess a specific position among other drug delivery systems due to their ability to show the properties of both hydrogels and nanoparticles at the same time. Although the mechanism of the transportation of nanoparticles loaded with medicine through blood-brain block is not discovered yet, it seems that nanogels are bind with brain capillary endothelial cells after being injected into the blood stream and sticking to apolipoproteins. Then, they enter endothelial cells through endocytosis (with the help of the receivers). This is the most probable mechanism.

The present research focuses on outside-body and laboratorial studies, being carried out in Biopharmacy and Pharmacokinetics Laboratories of Pharmaceutics Faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The inside-body studies (animal studies) are currently being carried out too.

Results of the research have been published on 1 September 2012 in Carbohydrate Polymers, vol. 90, issue 1. Visit the full paper on pages 462-471 of the same journals.