INTRANASAL ROUTE: A PROMISING TECHNIQUE FOR BRAIN TARGETING

PHARMACY

Targeted drug delivery seeks to concentrate the medication in the tissues of interest while reducing the relative concentration of medication in the remaining tissues. Thus improving efficacy of the drug and reducing side effects. Intranasal drug delivery – practiced for thousands of years, and given a new pact of life. It is a profitable delivery method for drugs that are active in low doses and show no minimal oral bioavailability such as proteins and peptides. The nasal route bypasses hepatic first pass elimination associated with the oral delivery: it is easily approachable and suitable for self-medication. The large surface area of the nasal mucosa affords a rapid onset of therapeutic effect, potential for direct-to-central nervous system delivery and non-invasiveness; all of which may maximize patient convenience, comfort, and compliance. Also it is fast in action and suitable for the drugs that degrade in gastrointestinal tract. Nose-to-brain delivery also avoids blood brain barrier which is important factor to be considered in formulation of CNS targeting drugs.

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