Immune Cells: Potential Carriers or Agents for Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System

Overview

Journal Mil Med Res

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Emergency Medicine

Date 2024 Mar 29

PMID 38549161

Authors

Shan-Shan Zhang

Ruo-Qi Li

Zhong Chen

Xiao-Ying Wang

Aaron S Dumont

Xiang Fan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Drug delivery systems (DDS) have recently emerged as a promising approach for the unique advantages of drug protection and targeted delivery. However, the access of nanoparticles/drugs to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a challenge mainly due to the obstruction from brain barriers. Immune cells infiltrating the CNS in the pathological state have inspired the development of strategies for CNS foundation drug delivery. Herein, we outline the three major brain barriers in the CNS and the mechanisms by which immune cells migrate across the blood-brain barrier. We subsequently review biomimetic strategies utilizing immune cell-based nanoparticles for the delivery of nanoparticles/drugs to the CNS, as well as recent progress in rationally engineering immune cell-based DDS for CNS diseases. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of immune cell-based DDS in CNS diseases to promote their clinical development.

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