Tight junction modulating bioprobes for drug delivery system to the brain: A review

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier (BBB), which is composed of endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, and neurons, separates the brain extracellular fluid from the circulating blood, and maintains the homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB endothelial cells have well-developed tight junctions (TJs) and express specific polarized transport systems to tightly control the paracellular movements of solutes, ions, and water. There are two types of TJs: bicellular TJs (bTJs), which is a structure at the contact of two cells, and tricellular TJs (tTJs), which is a structure at the contact of three cells. Claudin-5 and angulin-1 are important components of bTJs and tTJs in the brain, respectively. Here, we review TJ-modulating bioprobes that enable drug delivery to the brain across the BBB, focusing on claudin-5 and angulin-1.