Drug Design, Development and Therapy

Beyond Brain Boundaries: Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier to Reach the Central Nervous System

The central nervous system (CNS) is the final frontier in drug delivery due to its intricate network of neurons and complex functions. Despite the increasing prevalence of CNS disorders worldwide, developing effective treatments remains challenging due to exorbitant costs, prolonged clinical pathways, and discouraging failure rates. The formidable barriers guarding the CNS, such as the blood-brain barrier and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, pose significant challenges, impeding the access of most drugs to their intended targets. This Article Collection delves into the realm of drug design and explores innovative strategies and breakthrough materials designed to surmount these barriers, facilitating precise and controlled drug delivery to the CNS. The collection aims to unravel the enigma of the CNS by paving the way for transformative therapies that can revolutionize the treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.