NANOSPANLASTICS AS PROMISING CARRIERS FOR NOSE-TO-BRAIN DRUG DELIVERY
Abstract
Drug delivery to the brain remains the biggest hurdle in central nervous system (CNS) disorders due to the protective nature of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) obstructs most of the drugs from reaching their target site. Intranasal drug delivery has gained attention as a non-invasive and direct nose-to-brain targeting to bypass the BBB. However, conventional nasal formulations often struggle with rapid clearance and poor absorption. This review article focuses on nanospanlastics, a highly flexible, surfactant-based nanovesicle, as a novel and promising approach for nose-to-brain drug delivery. In this review article, we will discuss methods of nanospanlastics formulation, their mechanism of drug release, ability to carry a wide range of drugs, protect them from degradation, and release them in a controlled manner, making them useful for treating chronic CNS disorders. The review also covers recent research showing their potential in managing various chronic CNS disorders like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, brain tumors, and more. Growing interest and encouraging preclinical results show that nanospanlastics offer a powerful new tool in the fight against neurological and psychiatric disorders. Looking ahead, further clinical studies and scalable production methods will be significant to bringing this innovative technology from the lab to the clinic.
Keywords:
Nanospanlastics, Nose-to-brain delivery, Intranasal drug delivery, Blood-brain barrier (BBB), Central nervous system (CNS) disorders, Brain targeting, Nanocarriers
References
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9. Huang Q, Chen X, Yu S, Gong G, Shu H. Research progress in brain-targeted nasal drug delivery. Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Jan 17; 15: 1341295.
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13. Salamah M, Budai-Szűcs M, Sipos B, Volk B, Katona G, Balogh GT. Development and Characterization of In Situ Gelling Nasal Cilostazol Spanlastics Gels. MDPI. 2025 Jan 22; 11(2) :82.
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28. Engelhardt B, Sorokin L. The blood-brain and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers: Function and dysfunction. Semin Immunopathol. 2009 Nov; 31(4): 497–511.
29. Abdelbari MA, El-Mancy SS, Elshafeey AH, Abdelbary AA. Implementing Spanlastics for Improving the Ocular Delivery of Clotrimazole: In vitro Characterization, Ex vivo Permeability, Microbiological Assessment and In vivo Safety Study. Int J Nanomedicine. 2021 Sep; 16: 6249–6261.
30. Lamprou A D, Meziane A, Weaver E and Jaradat E. Microfluidics Technology for the Design and Formulation of Nanomedicines. Nanomaterials. 2021 Dec; 11(12): 3440.
31. Mall J, Naseem N, Haider MF, Rahman MA, Khan S, Siddiqui SN. Nanostructured lipid carriers as a drug delivery system: A comprehensive review with therapeutic applications. Intell Pharm. 2025; 3(4): 243-255.
32. Gharib Riham, Greige-Gerges Helene, Fourmentin Sophie, Charcosset Catherine and Auezova Lizette. Liposomes incorporating cyclodextrin–drug inclusion complexes: Current state of knowledge. Elsevier. 2015; 129: 175-186.
33. Mazyed EA, Helal DA, Elkhoudary MM, Abd Elhameed AG, Yasser M. Formulation and optimization of nanospanlastics for improving the bioavailability of green tea epigallocatechin gallate. Pharmaceuticals. 2021 Jan 1; 14(1): 1–30.
34. Zhang S, Gan L, Cao F, Wang H, Gong P, Ma C. The barrier and interface mechanisms of the brain barrier, and brain drug delivery. Brain Res Bull. 2022 Nov 1; 190: 69–83.
35. Niazi SK. Non-Invasive Drug Delivery across the Blood–Brain Barrier: A Prospective Analysis. Pharmaceutics. 2023 Nov 1; 15(11): 2599.
36. Nadim N, Khan AA, Khan S, Parveen R, Ali J. A narrative review on potential applications of spanlastics for nose-to-brain delivery of therapeutically active agents, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. Elsevier. 2025; 335: 103341.
37. Mazyed EA, Helal DA, Elkhoudary MM, Abd Elhameed AG, Yasser M. Formulation and Optimization of Nanospanlastics for Improving the Bioavailability of Green Tea Epigallocatechin Gallate. Pharmaceuticals. 2021 Jan 15; 14(1): 68.
38. Bourganis V, Kammona O, Alexopoulos A, Kiparissides C. Recent advances in carrier mediated nose-to-brain delivery of pharmaceutics. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2018 Jul 1; 128: 337–362.
39. Jankovic J. Parkinson’s disease: Clinical features and diagnosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008; 79(4): 368–376.
40. Zahoor I, Shafi A, Haq E. Pharmacological Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Park Dis Pathog Clin Asp. 2018 Dec 21; 129–144.
41. Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, Thom RP, Larkin K, Buono FD. Pharmacotherapy of Anxiety Disorders: Current and Emerging Treatment Options. Front psychiatry. 2020 Dec 23; 11: 595-584.
42. Saleh A, Khalifa M, Shawky S, Bani-Ali A, Eassa H. Zolmitriptan Intranasal Spanlastics for Enhanced Migraine Treatment; Formulation Parameters Optimized via Quality by Design Approach. Sci Pharm. 2021 May 27; 89(2): 24.
2. Cui Y, Yang W, Shuai J, Ma Y, Yan Y. Lifestyle and Socioeconomic Transition and Health Consequences of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias in Global, from 1990 to 2019. J Prev Alzheimer’s. 2024 Jan 1; 11(1): 88–96.
3. Pangalos MN and Gallen CC. Drug discovery for disorders of the central nervous system. Neurorx. 2005; 2(4): 539–40.
4. Daneman R, Prat A. The blood-brain barrier Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2015 Jan 5; 7(1): a020412.
5. Gabathuler R. Approaches to transport therapeutic drugs across the blood-brain barrier to treat brain diseases. Neurobiol Dis. 2010 Jan 1; 37(1): 48–57.
6. Abbott NJ. Blood–brain barrier structure and function and the challenges for CNS drug delivery. J Inherit Metab Dis. 2013 May 23; 36(3): 437–49.
7. Price G, Patel DA. Drug Bioavailability. StatPearls Elsevier. 2025; 1–2.
8. Devadasu VR, Deb PK, Maheshwari R, Sharma P, Tekade RK. Physicochemical, Pharmaceutical, and Biological Considerations in GIT Absorption of Drugs. In: Dosage Form Design Considerations. Elsevier 2018; 149–78.
9. Huang Q, Chen X, Yu S, Gong G, Shu H. Research progress in brain-targeted nasal drug delivery. Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Jan 17; 15: 1341295.
10. Parida S, Senthilnathan M. Administration of paediatric intranasal sedation: Need for appropriate formulation & equipment for dispensation. Indian Journal of Medical Research. Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications. 2023; 157: 96–99.
11. Slikker W, Wu L, Xu J, Shafer TJ. In pursuit of precision medicine for brain injury and neurotoxicity and improved protection of human health. In: Comprehensive Precision Medicine. Elsevier. 2024; 495–510.
12. Ahmed R. First-Pass Metabolism and Its Effect on Bioavailability. OSF. 2025.
13. Salamah M, Budai-Szűcs M, Sipos B, Volk B, Katona G, Balogh GT. Development and Characterization of In Situ Gelling Nasal Cilostazol Spanlastics Gels. MDPI. 2025 Jan 22; 11(2) :82.
14. Wu D, Chen Q, Chen X, Han F, Chen Z, Wang Y. The blood-brain barrier: structure, regulation, and drug delivery. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2023 May 25; 8(1): 217.
15. Boyuklieva R and Pilicheva B. Micro-and Nanosized Carriers for Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomedicines. 200; 10: 1706.
16. Lee D, Minko T. Nanotherapeutics for nose-to-brain drug delivery: An approach to bypass the blood brain barrier. Pharmaceutics MDPI. 2021; 13: 2049.
17. Nur Husna SM, Tan HTT, Md Shukri N, Mohd Ashari NS, Wong KK. Nasal Epithelial Barrier Integrity and Tight Junctions Disruption in Allergic Rhinitis: Overview and Pathogenic Insights. Front Immunol. 2021 May 21; 12: 663-626.
18. Keller LA, Merkel O, Popp A. Intranasal drug delivery: opportunities and toxicologic challenges during drug development. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2022 Apr 25; 12(4): 735–57.
19. Zhang S, Gan L, Cao F, Wang H, Gong P, Ma C, et al. The barrier and interface mechanisms of the brain barrier, and brain drug delivery. Brain Res Bull. 2022 Nov 1; 190: 69–83.
20. Almohamady HI, Mortagi Y, Gad S, Zaitone S, Alshaman R, Alattar A. Spanlastic Nano-Vesicles: A Novel Approach to Improve the Dissolution, Bioavailability, and Pharmacokinetic Behavior of Famotidine. Pharmaceuticals. 2024 Dec 1; 17(12): 1614.
21. Annisa R. Spanlastic as a Transdermal Drug Delivery System: A Systematic Review. Biomed Pharmacol J. 2025 Mar 31; 18(1): 447–57.
22. Sahin S, Sarma S, and Das A. Spanlastics ocular delivery: a comprehensive review of formulation and therapeutic potential. Discov. Pharm. Sci. 2025; 1: 9.
23. Kumar GP, Rajeshwarrao P. Nonionic surfactant vesicular systems for effective drug delivery—an overview. Acta Pharm Sin B. 2011 Dec 1; 1(4): 208–19.
24. Amin MK, Boateng JS. Enhancing Stability and Mucoadhesive Properties of Chitosan Nanoparticles by Surface Modification with Sodium Alginate and Polyethylene Glycol for Potential Oral Mucosa Vaccine Delivery. Mar Drugs. 2022 Mar 1; 20(3): 156.
25. Almohamady HI, Mortagi Y, Gad S, Zaitone S, Alshaman R, Alattar A. Spanlastic Nano-Vesicles: A Novel Approach to Improve the Dissolution, Bioavailability, and Pharmacokinetic Behavior of Famotidine. Pharmaceuticals. 2024 Nov 29; 17(12): 1614.
26. Bahadur S, Jha MK. Emerging nanoformulations for drug targeting to brain through intranasal delivery: A comprehensive review. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol. 2022 Dec 1; 78: 103-132.
27. Ansari MD, Saifi Z, Pandit J, Khan I, Solanki P, Sultana Y. Spanlastics a Novel Nanovesicular Carrier: Its Potential Application and Emerging Trends in Therapeutic Delivery. AAPS PharmSciTech. 2022 May 11 ; 23(4): 112.
28. Engelhardt B, Sorokin L. The blood-brain and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barriers: Function and dysfunction. Semin Immunopathol. 2009 Nov; 31(4): 497–511.
29. Abdelbari MA, El-Mancy SS, Elshafeey AH, Abdelbary AA. Implementing Spanlastics for Improving the Ocular Delivery of Clotrimazole: In vitro Characterization, Ex vivo Permeability, Microbiological Assessment and In vivo Safety Study. Int J Nanomedicine. 2021 Sep; 16: 6249–6261.
30. Lamprou A D, Meziane A, Weaver E and Jaradat E. Microfluidics Technology for the Design and Formulation of Nanomedicines. Nanomaterials. 2021 Dec; 11(12): 3440.
31. Mall J, Naseem N, Haider MF, Rahman MA, Khan S, Siddiqui SN. Nanostructured lipid carriers as a drug delivery system: A comprehensive review with therapeutic applications. Intell Pharm. 2025; 3(4): 243-255.
32. Gharib Riham, Greige-Gerges Helene, Fourmentin Sophie, Charcosset Catherine and Auezova Lizette. Liposomes incorporating cyclodextrin–drug inclusion complexes: Current state of knowledge. Elsevier. 2015; 129: 175-186.
33. Mazyed EA, Helal DA, Elkhoudary MM, Abd Elhameed AG, Yasser M. Formulation and optimization of nanospanlastics for improving the bioavailability of green tea epigallocatechin gallate. Pharmaceuticals. 2021 Jan 1; 14(1): 1–30.
34. Zhang S, Gan L, Cao F, Wang H, Gong P, Ma C. The barrier and interface mechanisms of the brain barrier, and brain drug delivery. Brain Res Bull. 2022 Nov 1; 190: 69–83.
35. Niazi SK. Non-Invasive Drug Delivery across the Blood–Brain Barrier: A Prospective Analysis. Pharmaceutics. 2023 Nov 1; 15(11): 2599.
36. Nadim N, Khan AA, Khan S, Parveen R, Ali J. A narrative review on potential applications of spanlastics for nose-to-brain delivery of therapeutically active agents, Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. Elsevier. 2025; 335: 103341.
37. Mazyed EA, Helal DA, Elkhoudary MM, Abd Elhameed AG, Yasser M. Formulation and Optimization of Nanospanlastics for Improving the Bioavailability of Green Tea Epigallocatechin Gallate. Pharmaceuticals. 2021 Jan 15; 14(1): 68.
38. Bourganis V, Kammona O, Alexopoulos A, Kiparissides C. Recent advances in carrier mediated nose-to-brain delivery of pharmaceutics. Eur J Pharm Biopharm. 2018 Jul 1; 128: 337–362.
39. Jankovic J. Parkinson’s disease: Clinical features and diagnosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2008; 79(4): 368–376.
40. Zahoor I, Shafi A, Haq E. Pharmacological Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Park Dis Pathog Clin Asp. 2018 Dec 21; 129–144.
41. Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, Thom RP, Larkin K, Buono FD. Pharmacotherapy of Anxiety Disorders: Current and Emerging Treatment Options. Front psychiatry. 2020 Dec 23; 11: 595-584.
42. Saleh A, Khalifa M, Shawky S, Bani-Ali A, Eassa H. Zolmitriptan Intranasal Spanlastics for Enhanced Migraine Treatment; Formulation Parameters Optimized via Quality by Design Approach. Sci Pharm. 2021 May 27; 89(2): 24.
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How to Cite
Priyanka Singh, Poonam Maurya, and Raj Keshwar Prasad. “NANOSPANLASTICS AS PROMISING CARRIERS FOR NOSE-TO-BRAIN DRUG DELIVERY”. Current Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 15, no. 3, Oct. 2025, pp. 75-82, doi:10.24092/CRPS.2025.150301.
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Review Articles
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