RECEPTOR-MEDIATED TRANSPORT OF THERAPEUTICS ACROSS THE BLOOD-BRAIN-BARRIER

THE DELIVERY OF nonlipophilic compounds to the brain is severely hinde red by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). However, brain capillary endothe lial cells, which form the BBB, do possess specific receptor-mediated transport mechanisms that potentially can be exploited as a means to t ransport therapeutic molecules to the brain. We have found that antibo dies that bind to the transferrin receptor selectively target BBB endo thelium, are transported into the brain, and can function as carriers for the delivery of compounds, including proteins, to the central nerv ous system. This drug delivery system has been used to transport nerve growth factor across the BBB in a biologically active form and at lev els sufficient to prevent the degeneration of nerve growth factor-depe ndent neurons,