Open AccessConvection Enhanced Delivery of Macromolecules for Brain Tumors
Author(s) -
Ankit I. Mehta,
Bryan D. Choi,
Divya Ajay,
Raghu Raghavan,
Martin Brady,
Allan H. Friedman,
Ira Pastan,
Darell D. Bigner,
John H. Sampson
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
current drug discovery technologies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1875-6220
pISSN - 1570-1638
DOI - 10.2174/157016312803305951
Subject(s) - drug delivery , macromolecule , blood–brain barrier , hydrostatic pressure , drug carrier , nanotechnology , chemistry , materials science , neuroscience , central nervous system , biology , mechanics , physics , biochemistry
The blood brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge for drug delivery of macromolecules into the brain. Convection-enhanced delivery (CED) circumvents the BBB through direct intracerebral infusion using a hydrostatic pressure gradient to transfer therapeutic compounds. The efficacy of CED is dependent on the distribution of the therapeutic agent to the targeted region. Here we present a review of convection enhanced delivery of macromolecules, emphasizing the role of tracers in enabling effective delivery anddiscuss current challenges in the field.