Current Research on Pro-drug Therapies for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) disease are common neurodegenerative conditions of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Thus, these diseases have only been treated symptomatically since no approved drug is available that provides a complete cure.

Objectives: Through reading relevant literatures published at home and abroad, the method and significance of prodrug strategy to increase the efficacy of ad and pd drugs were discussed.

Methods: The biological mechanisms and currently approved drugs for both diseases have been discussed, revealing that most of these treatments utilized existing prodrug design strategies, including increased lipophilicity, and the use of transporters mediation and bio-oxidation to improve oral bioavailability and brain permeability.

Results: The purpose of this paper is to review the research progress in the treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases (NDDS), especially ad and pd, using the prodrug strategy. The research of drug bioavailability and the prodrug strategy of cns targeted drug delivery lay the foundation for drug development to treat these diseases.

Conclusion: The use of prodrug strategies provides important opportunities for the development of novel therapies for ad and pd.

Keywords: Neurodegenerative diseases; alzheimer's disease; oral bioavailability; parkinson's disease; prodrug strategies; the brain permeability.