A new gel that can adhere to tissue inside the nose with a drug can help deliver treatment to the brain. Parkinson's patients have a deficit of dopamine-produced cells in the brain, which makes it difficult to treat symptoms of the disease. Levodopa becomes less effective over time and increased doses are needed.
The current drug used for Parkinson's Disease is effective to a point, but after a long period of use the body starts to breakdown the drug before it gets to the brain where it is most needed, according to Professor David Smith from the University of York. Sometimes, instead of tablets, the drug needs to be injected. The challenge here is to find a way of making it adhere to the nasal tissue long enough to release a good amount of the drug.
The method was tested in animal models by a team at King's College London. Professor Smith said that the results showed that the gel gave the drug better absorption into the brain and blood. The approach may be applicable to other neurodegenerative diseases.
Professor Al-Jamal from King's College London said that the gel performed better than a simple solution and that the brain absorption was better than using a drug injection. This suggests that delivery of Parkinson's drugs using this type of gel is relevant. Julie Tzu-Wen Wang, et al., Enhanced Delivery of Neuroactive Drugs via Nasal Delivery with a Self-Healing Supramolecular Gel, Advanced Science, is a reference.
The University of York provided a press release."
