Erdo Franciska
Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Hungary
Biography
Erdo Franciska is a Senior Research Scientist and Head of Laboratory of Microdialysis at Pázmány Péter Catholic University (PPCU). She got her MSc degree in Pharmacy and PhD degree in Pharmacology at Semmelweis University of Medicine, Budapest. She has worked for research institutes (Budapest, Cologne, Berlin, Veszprém), pharmaceutical companies (Budapest), a biotechnological contract research organization (SOLVO) and at the academy both in Hungary and in Germany. Current foci of her research interest are the membrane transporter proteins (P-gp, BCRP) at the blood-brain barrier and the cutaneous barrier and the process of physiological and pathological aging. She is the Author of more than 40 high impact papers, and 5 books and book chapters. She is the Supervisor of PhD, MSc and BSc students and teaching Drug Research and Development and Quality Assurance at the Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics at PPCU.
Abstract
Treatment of certain central nervous system disorders, including different types of cerebral malignancies, is limited by traditional oral or systemic administrations of therapeutic drugs due to possible serious side effects and/or lack of the brain penetration. During the last decade, several new technologies were developed to overcome barrier properties of cerebral capillaries. This presentation gives a short overview of the structural elements and anatomical features of the blood-brain barrier. The various in vitro (static and dynamic), in vivo (microdialysis), and in situ (brain perfusion) blood–brain barrier models will also be presented. The drug formulations and administration options to deliver molecules effectively to the central nervous system (CNS) will also be presented. Nanocarriers, nanoparticles (lipid, polymeric, magnetic, gold, and carbon based nanoparticles, dendrimers, etc.), viral and peptid vectors and shuttles, sonoporation and microbubbles are elements of this toolbox. The modulation of receptors and efflux transporters in the cell membrane can also be an effective approach to enhance brain exposure to therapeutic compounds. Intranasal administration is a non-invasive delivery route to bypass the blood-brain barrier, while direct brain administration is an invasive mode to target the brain regions with therapeutic drug concentrations locally. Nowadays, both technological and mechanistic tools are available to assist in overcoming the blood-brain barrier. With these techniques, more effective and even safer drugs can be developed for the treatment of devastating brain disorders.