Memantine nanoemulsion: a new approach to treat Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

Aim: A nanoemulsion loaded with memantine for intranasal delivery to bypass the blood-brain barrier for the treatment of Alzheimer disease.

Method: The nanoemulsion was prepared using homogenisation and ultrasonication methods. The developed nanoemulsion was characterised, in vitro release and antioxidant potential was analysed. The in vivo studies were carried out by radiolabelling the memantine with technetium pertechnetate.

Results: The finalised NE showed particle-size of ∼11 nm and percentage transmittance of ∼99%. The in vitro release studies showed 80% drug release in simulated nasal fluid. The nanoemulsion showed 98% cell viability and antioxidative assays confirmed that the encapsulation of memantine in a nanoemulsion sustained its antioxidative potential. Gamma images and biodistribution results also confirmed higher uptake of formulation with %radioactivity of 3.6 ± 0.18%/g at 1.5 h in brains of rats administered intranasally.

Conclusion: The developed nanoemulsion could be used as a potential carrier of memantine for a direct nose to brain delivery.

Keywords:

• Biodistribution
• gamma scintigraphy
• intranasal
• memantine
• nanoemulsion
• radiolabelling

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to DBT, Govt. of India for funding and to the Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, UP (India), for the infrastructural support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that this paper content has no conflict of interests.

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India [DBT Grant No. BT/PR19580/BIC/101/865/2016].