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Review
. 2023 Nov;29(11):3150-3159.
doi: 10.1111/cns.14355. Epub 2023 Jul 14.

Nano-delivery systems as a promising therapeutic potential for epilepsy: Current status and future perspectives

Ahmad Movahedpour  1 , Rasul Taghvaeefar  1 , Ali-Akbar Asadi-Pooya  2   3 , Yousof Karami  4 , Ronia Tavasolian  5 , Seyyed Hossein Khatami  6 , Elahe Soltani Fard  7 , Sina Taghvimi  8 , Neda Karami  9 , Khojaste Rahimi Jaberi  10 , Mortaza Taheri-Anganeh  11 , Hassan Ghasemi  12
Affiliations
Review

Nano-delivery systems as a promising therapeutic potential for epilepsy: Current status and future perspectives

Ahmad Movahedpour et al. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder caused by aberrant neuronal electrical activity. Antiseizure medications (ASMs) are the first line of treatment for people with epilepsy (PWE). However, their effectiveness may be limited by their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), among many other potential underpinnings for drug resistance in epilepsy. Therefore, there is a need to overcome this issue and, hopefully, improve the effectiveness of ASMs. Recently, synthetic nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems have received attention for improving the effectiveness of ASMs due to their ability to cross the BBB. Furthermore, exosomes have emerged as a promising generation of drug delivery systems because of their potential benefits over synthetic nanoparticles. In this narrative review, we focus on various synthetic nanoparticles that have been studied to deliver ASMs. Furthermore, the benefits and limitations of each nano-delivery system have been discussed. Finally, we discuss exosomes as potentially promising delivery tools for treating epilepsy.

Keywords: drug; epilepsy; exosomes; nanoparticles; seizure.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
The BBB is composed of endothelial cells that are linked together by tight junction proteins. This barrier's tight junction proteins include claudin‐5, claudin‐1, and occludin. These tight connections keep harmful chemicals out of the blood and the brain. ZO‐1, ZO‐2, and ZO‐3 proteins link these tight junction proteins to the Actin cytoskeleton of endothelial cells. Different types of transporter proteins exclusively carry certain chemicals between the blood and the brain. BBB, blood–brain barrier; BCRP, breast cancer resistance protein; MRP, multidrug resistance protein; ZO, zonula occludens.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Nanotechnology‐based medication delivery devices are being used to treat epilepsy. As discussed in this review, intelligent NP designs that optimize delivery have the potential to increase precision medicine performance and thereby hasten clinical translation. Each type has distinct benefits and disadvantages in terms of cargo, delivery, and patient reaction. CBZ, Carbamazepine; LCM, lacosamide; lncRNA, long non‐coding RNA; LTG, Lamotrigine; miRNA, microRNA; mRNA, messenger RNA; OLZ, olanzapine; OX, oxcarbazepine; OXC, oxcarbazepine; TRH, thyrotropin‐releasing hormone; VH, valproic acid.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Classification of nanomaterials.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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