Uptake drug transporters play a significant role in the pharmacokinetic of drugs within the brain, facilitating their entry into the central nervous system (CNS). Understanding brain drug disposition is always challenging, especially with respect to preclinical to clinical translation. These transporters are members of the solute carrier (SLC) superfamily, which includes organic anion transporter polypeptides (OATPs), organic anion transporters (OATs), organic cation transporters (OCTs), and amino acid transporters. In this systematic review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of uptake drug transporters in the brain and their contribution to drug disposition. Here, we also assemble currently available proteomics-based expression levels of uptake transporters in the human brain and their application in translational drug development. Proteomics data suggest that in association with efflux transporters, uptake drug transporters present at the BBB play a significant role in brain drug disposition. It is noteworthy that a significant level of species differences in uptake drug transporters activity exists, and this may contribute toward a disconnect in inter-species scaling. Taken together, uptake drug transporters at the BBB could play a significant role in pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). Continuous research is crucial for advancing our understanding of active uptake across the BBB.
Keywords: CNS drug delivery; blood–brain barrier; pharmacokinetics; uptake transporters.