Recent Advances in Nanocrystals Heralding Greater Potential in Brain Delivery

Abstract

AbstractAbout 90% of natural/synthetic origin new drugs under the discovery process are facing problems related to poor aqueous solubility. Nanotechnology‐mediated approaches are proven to be effective in the development of such drug molecules. Nanocrystals (NCs) are the pure solid crystalline particulates with a mean diameter smaller than 1 µm and are primarily comprised of only the drug along with the stabilizers. NCs technology has proven to be a potential strategy to enhance the solubility and the therapeutic efficacy of BCS class IV and class II drugs. Such potential of NCs offers new prospects for advancement in targeted brain delivery in various disorders. The main hurdle for the delivery of the drug is blood brain barrier (BBB) which protects central nervous system (CNS) from foreign materials. The major advantage of NCs is their smaller particle size which leads to increased brain delivery of therapeutics by crossing the BBB. This review is mainly focused on the BBB, the mechanism of interaction of NCs with the endothelial cells, the safety‐related benefits of NCs, application of NCs for the amelioration of a variety of neurological disorders (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, brain tumor, psychosis, and brain infection, cerebral ischemia) and challenges of NCs technology.