Nanotechnology-Powered Meningitis Therapies: Lipid Nanoparticles Lead the Way

Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2024 May 3. doi: 10.2174/0113892010303028240429073144. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The meninges serve as a protective layer, and the fluid around the brain and spinal cord can become inflamed, known as meningitis. Lipid-based pharmaceutical formulations, by their high lipophilicity, can negotiate the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). The current mode of treatment of meningitis is mainly through antibiotics, which, at best, is partially effective. The success of antibiotic therapy depends on several factors, for example, the difficulty of reaching the infection site, maintaining proper concentrations of the drug after crossing the BBB, and finally, its efficacy in preventing recurrent infection. In this context, interest has focused on organic and inorganic nanostructures for meningitis and transporting antibiotics to the selected region through the BBB. A focus has also been placed on several polymeric nanotechnology techniques for detecting various types of meningitis. This review focuses on nano interventions and their most recent meningitis treatments using nanotechnology.

Keywords: Meningitis; liposome; nano intervention; polymeric nanoparticles; transferosome..