DISTRIBUTION OF DRUGS FOLLOWING CONTROLLED DELIVERY TO THE BRAIN INTERSTITIUM

Intracranial controlled release polymers have been used for drug deliv ery to the brain, bypassing the blood brain barrier (BBB). By understa nding the rates and patterns of transport in the local tissues, it is possible to design delivery systems that provide the optimal spatial a nd temporal pattern of chemotherapy within the intracranial space. Thi s paper reviews the kinetics of drug release from polymeric controlled release implants, and describes the fate of drug molecules following release into the brain interstitium. Potential improvements in drug de livery based on the understanding of the mechanisms of drug release, t ransport and elimination are discussed.