NASAL IN-SITU GEL: NOVEL APPROACH FOR THE TREATMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE LIKE DEPRESSION

*Vaishnavi N. Ghati, Pankaj R. Dhapke, Nilakshi N. Dhoble, Nitin Padole and Jagdish R. Baheti

ABSTRACT

The treatment of neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders remains a challenge in medical research. Several strategies have been developed over the years, either to overcome the blood-brain barrier or to achieve a safer or faster brain delivery, one of them being intranasal (IN) administration. Many pharmaceuticals are commonly delivered via oral ingestion (e.g., tablets or capsules) or through parenteral injection, especially when substances are susceptible to degradation in the gastric environment or lack absorbability. Nonetheless, these methods present drawbacks, such as challenges associated with swallowing tablets and the need for trained personnel and sterile environments to mitigate contamination risks during parenteral administration. The possibility of direct nose-to-brain transport offers enhanced targeting and reduced systemic side effects. Conventional nasal drug delivery systems, encompassing solutions, suspensions, and ointments, exhibit inherent limitations such as brief retention within the nasal cavity, substantial variability in efficacy, diminished permeability and impracticality in terms of administration. In-situ forming gel drug delivery systems with the capability to circumvent the blood-brain barrier, target specific sites for therapeutic delivery, mitigate peripheral toxicity, and regulate drug release kinetics, have been formulated. The optimal mode of administration for this drug has been achieved through the formulation of mucoadhesive and thermoreversible gel preparation for various pharmaceutical compounds.

Keywords: Conventional, therapeutic delivery, thermoreversible, permeability.