DRUG-DELIVERY TO THE NERVOUS-SYSTEM

Delivery of drugs to the nervous system remains a challenge despite ad vances in our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the developm ent of neurodegenerative disorders and the actions of neuroactive agen ts. Drug accessibility to the central nervous system is limited by the blood-brain barrier; although the peripheral nervous system is more a ccessible than the central nervous system, problems are still encounte red, mainly owing to the poor stability and considerable side effects of many neuroactive compounds when administered systemically. Microenc apsulation of neuroactive compounds and living cells producing such su bstances can overcome some of these shortcomings for delivery to the n ervous system.