How nano-engineered delivery systems can help marketed and repurposed drugs in Alzheimer's disease treatment?

Drug Discov Today. 2022 Jun;27(6):1575-1589. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.02.022. Epub 2022 Feb 25.

Abstract

Given the continual increase in the number of patients and the lack of curative treatment, the development of new therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD) is becoming ever more urgent. In this review, we summarize the most promising preclinical studies in, and the significant benefits offered by, nanocarriers to realize the full potential of marketed drugs and identify repurposed drugs. No clinical trials have yet been conducted on nanocarriers for drug repurposing in AD. However, recent preclinical results suggest that nanocarriers could overcome the bioavailability and/or selectivity issues of repurposed drugs, improving their therapeutic efficacy.

Keywords: Nanocarriers; Nanomedicines; Neurodegenerative diseases; Preclinical studies; Repurposing.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / drug therapy
  • Biological Availability
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Drug Repositioning
  • Humans
  • Pharmaceutical Preparations

Substances

  • Pharmaceutical Preparations