Figures & data
Figure 1 Schematic representation of drug transport across BBB via different mechanisms including passive diffusion (including paracellular transport of polar or hydrophilic drug and transcellular transport of lipidic or non-polar drug), receptor-mediated transport, ion channel transport of surface charged molecules, carrier-mediated transport of AA, glucose, larger proteins and peptides, and also the efflux transport that regulates the outflow of metabolites, drugs, toxins and neurotransmitters.
Abbreviations: AA, amino acid; BBB, blood–brain barrier; BCECs, brain capillary endothelial cells.
Figure 2 Figure showing general structure of some important nanocarriers including liposome, polymeric nanoparticle, inorganic nanoparticle (iron oxide or magnetic nanoparticle and gold nanoparticle), nanogel, nanoemulsion, dendrimers and quantum dots used to target the therapeutic agents to the brain.
