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Posted on Oct 21, 2002, 1 p.m.
By Bill Freeman
Researchers at the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) have managed to deliver drugs to a part of the brain that is notoriously difficult to reach because of the blood brain barrier (BBB). The BBB exists to protect the brain from potentially dangerous substances, however it is a major headache to doctors as it makes it virtually impossible to deliver drugs to the brain.
Researchers at the US National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) have managed to deliver drugs to a part of the brain that is notoriously difficult to reach because of the blood brain barrier (BBB). The BBB exists to protect the brain from potentially dangerous substances, however it is a major headache to doctors as it makes it virtually impossible to deliver drugs to the brain. Dr Russell Lonser and his colleagues managed to breach the BBB using a technique called convection-enhanced delivery (CED). CED uses pressure differences to enable large molecular weight molecules that are infused in liquid to pass through solid tissues. At present the technique has only been tried on rats and monkeys, although the researchers are confident that it will prove safe and effective in humans. If so, the technique could help to treat brain tumors, and other neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.bbc.co.uk on the 4th October 2002
