Nasal Drug Delivery of Anticancer Drugs for the Treatment of Glioblastoma: Preclinical and Clinical Trials

Author(s)

Bruinsmann, Franciele Aline ^{[1, 2]} ; Vaz, Gustavo Richter ^{[2, 3]} ; Soares Alves, Aline de Cristo ^[1] ; Aguirre, Tanira ^[4] ; Pohlmann, Adriana Raffin ^{[5, 1]} ; Guterres, Silvia Staniscuaski ^[1] ; Sonvico, Fabio ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Farmaceut, BR-90610000 Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[2] Univ Parma, Food & Drug Dept, Parco Area Sci 27-A, I-43124 Parma - Italy

^[3] Univ Fed Rio Grande, Lab Nanotecnol Aplicada Saude, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Saude, BR-96210900 Rio Grande, RS - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Ciencias Saude Porto Alegre, Programa Posgrad Biociencias, BR-90050017 Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[5] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Inst Quim, Dept Quim Organ, BR-91501970 Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

• Document type: Review article
• Source: Molecules; v. 24, n. 23 DEC 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal form of brain tumor, being characterized by the rapid growth and invasion of the surrounding tissue. The current standard treatment for glioblastoma is surgery, followed by radiotherapy and concurrent chemotherapy, typically with temozolomide. Although extensive research has been carried out over the past years to develop a more effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GBM, efforts have not provided major improvements in terms of the overall survival of patients. Consequently, new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Overcoming the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major challenge in the development of therapies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In this context, the intranasal route of drug administration has been proposed as a non-invasive alternative route for directly targeting the CNS. This route of drug administration bypasses the BBB and reduces the systemic side effects. Recently, several formulations have been developed for further enhancing nose-to-brain transport, mainly with the use of nano-sized and nanostructured drug delivery systems. The focus of this review is to provide an overview of the strategies that have been developed for delivering anticancer compounds for the treatment of GBM while using nasal administration. In particular, the specific properties of nanomedicines proposed for nose-to-brain delivery will be critically evaluated. The preclinical and clinical data considered supporting the idea that nasal delivery of anticancer drugs may represent a breakthrough advancement in the fight against GBM. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/50928-2 - INCT 2014: Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology: a transdisciplinary approach
• Grantee: Maria Vitória Lopes Badra Bentley
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants