Lipid nanoparticles for the transport of drugs like dopamine through the blood–brain barrier

Abstract

Diseases and disorders of the nervous system, like Parkinson disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative pathologies, are widespread in our society. The arsenal of treatments against these pathologies continues to increase, but in many cases, its use is limited. This is due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which acts by limiting the penetration of drugs into the brain. To overcome this handicap, in the current research, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs) able to encapsulate drugs and to cross the blood-brain barrier have been designed to transport and release these drugs into their targets. These SLNPs were synthesized by a sonication method and high agitation process searching the most adequate physicochemical profile to achieve the objectives set. Today, the most efficient treatment for PD consists of providing the dopamine (DP) that is lost by neurodegeneration; however, the nature of this neurotransmitter prevents its crossing of the BBB. Therefore, DP may be considered as a good candidate to be encapsulated in SLNPs while studying how the loading drug could affect such nanoparticles. Based on these antecedents, in this research, both empty and DP-charged SLNPs were characterized physicochemically. The results obtained indicated a great stability of the nanoparticles loaded with DP when drug was used at 0.2 to 0.05%; these concentrations barely affected its size, polydispersity, and ζ-potential, and the SLNPs elaborated in this research were high appropriate to be injected systemically. Finally, empty SLNPs labeled and administered systemically to adult male Wistar rats demonstrate their penetration ability into the brain parenchyma.