Diseases that cause deterioration of the neurons are many and Alzheimers disease (AD) is a typical example. The prevalence of AD is increasing with a huge impact on the family, society, and the economy of nations. The central nervous system and its periphery have barriers which are crucial interfaces preventing the entrance of awkward materials. Among these barriers, the bloodbrain barrier (BBB) is the most selective and comprises cells coupled with fitted intersections. Nanosized carriers have the prospect for administering drugs to the brain and examples include nanoemulsions, those based on solid lipids and those based on solid and liquid lipids. These formulations can encapsulate active molecules and target necessary transport systems in the brain, thus enabling drug uptake through the BBB. Nanoparticles are of different types and are obtained using diverse techniques and materials. What is common to all nanocarriers is the small sizes and specificity in site targeting. Conventional drugs used in the treatment of AD and bioactive agents can be designed as nanocarriers for improved efficacy. This paper elucidates the use of nanoparticles in managing AD while touching on the prospects of natural therapeutic agents and highlighting future perspectives.
Key words: Nano-delivery, Alzheimers' disease, bioactive agents, blood-brain barrier, delivery systems.
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