Cell-Penetrating Peptide-Mediated Therapeutic Molecule Delivery into the Central Nervous System

Title:Cell-Penetrating Peptide-Mediated Therapeutic Molecule Delivery into the Central Nervous System

Volume: 11 Issue: 2

Author(s): Li-Li Zou, Jie-Lan Ma, Tao Wang, Tang-Bin Yang and Chang-Bai Liu

Affiliation:

Keywords: Central nervous system, blood-brain barrier, cell-penetrating peptides, drug delivery

Abstract: The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a dynamic and complex barrier formed by endothelial cells, can impede the entry of unwanted substances – pathogens and therapeutic molecules alike – into the central nervous system (CNS) from the blood circulation. Taking into account the fact that CNS-related diseases are the largest and fastest growing unmet medical concern, many potential protein- and nucleic acid-based medicines have been developed for therapeutic purposes. However, due to their poor ability to cross the BBB and the plasma membrane, the above-mentioned bio-macromolecules have limited use in treating neurological diseases. Finding effective, safe, and convenient ways to deliver therapeutic molecules into the CNS is thus urgently required. In recent decades, much effort has been expended in the development of drug delivery technologies, of which cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have the most promising potential. The present review covers the latest advances in CPP delivery technology, and provides an update on their use in CNS-targeted drug delivery.

Cite this article as:

Zou Li-Li, Ma Jie-Lan, Wang Tao, Yang Tang-Bin and Liu Chang-Bai, Cell-Penetrating Peptide-Mediated Therapeutic Molecule Delivery into the Central Nervous System, Current Neuropharmacology 2013; 11 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159X11311020006