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. 2013 Mar;11(2):197-208.
doi: 10.2174/1570159X11311020006.

Cell-penetrating Peptide-mediated therapeutic molecule delivery into the central nervous system

Li-Li Zou  1 , Jie-Lan Ma, Tao Wang, Tang-Bin Yang, Chang-Bai Liu
Affiliations

Cell-penetrating Peptide-mediated therapeutic molecule delivery into the central nervous system

Li-Li Zou et al. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2013 Mar.

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.

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

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Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
Applications of CPPs in cargo delivery.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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