Scientists at INST, Mohali innovate unique drug delivery method to improve brain TB treatment

The drug delivery technology used was nose-to-brain (N2B) drug delivery, which utilises the olfactory and trigeminal nerve pathways in the nasal cavity to bypass the blood brain barrier

Researchers have created a unique way to deliver Tuberculosis (TB) medicines directly to the brain bypassing the challenging blood-brain barrier (BBB) that limits the effectiveness of many brain TB medicines. The innovative drug delivery method can effectively treat brain TB, a life-threatening condition with a high mortality rate.

Scientists at the Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Mohali, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) used tiny particles made of a natural material called chitosan, to deliver TB medicines directly to the brain through the nose, bypassing the BBB.

The scientist's team led by Rahul Kumar Verma along with Krishna Jadhav, Agrim Jhilta, Raghuraj Singh, Eupa Ray, Vimal Kumar, Awadh Yadav and Amit Kumar Singh developed chitosan nano-aggregates, tiny clusters of nanoparticles made from chitosan, a biocompatible and biodegradable material. These tiny particles, known as nanoparticles, were then made into slightly larger clusters called nano-aggregates, designed for easy nasal delivery. They can hold TB drugs like isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF). 

The drug delivery technology used was nose-to-brain (N2B) drug delivery, which utilises the olfactory and trigeminal nerve pathways in the nasal cavity to bypass the BBB. By delivering the drug through the nasal route, the nano-aggregates can transport the drugs directly into the brain, significantly improving drug bioavailability at the injection site.

Besides, chitosan is known for its mucoadhesive properties and sticks to the nasal mucosa, which helps the nano-aggregates stay in place and prolongs the time they can release the drug, enhancing its therapeutic effectiveness.

It could be applied to treat other brain infections, neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s), brain tumours, and epilepsy by enabling efficient drug delivery to the brain.

PIB