Unlocking the Blood-Brain Barrier for Enhanced Curcumin Delivery Using PEGylated Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier is a physiological barrier that regulates the entry of substances the brain. BBB poses a challenge for delivering drugs to brain. To address this challenge, a nano-system (P/CurMSNs) was fabricated. The study evaluated P/CurMSNs potential to cross blood brain barrier, via various administration routes; intraperitoneal, intranasal, and intravenous using mice model. The intranasal administration of P/CurMSNs exhibited the most efficient curcumin delivery to the brain in 30 min, achieving 366 ±37 ng/ml relative to 264 ±22 ng/ml and 303± 41 ng/ml for intraperitoneal and intravenous routes, respectively. Post intranasal administration, drug pharmacokinetic parameters were significantly higher in brain and lower in plasma and vital organs, when compared to the other administration routes. In conclusion, P/MSNs emerged as a promising strategy for delivering drug across blood brain barrier via the three routes, particularly intranasal administration, offering a potential therapeutic approach for brain disorders with enhanced brain tissue targeting.