Functionalized nanocarrier-based intranasal drug delivery of rivastigmine tartrate for enhanced brain exposure: a pharmacokinetic and biodistribution evaluation

To develop and evaluate a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-based intranasal delivery system for rivastigmine tartrate (RT) to improve systemic exposure and brain delivery for Alzheimer's disease (AD).

RT-loaded PEGylated MWCNTs were prepared, optimized using a 3 2 factorial design, and characterized for particle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, morphology, in vitro release, ex vivo nasal permeation, pharmacokinetics, brain biodistribution, cytocompatibility, and neuroprotective activity.

The optimized formulation showed an entrapment efficiency of 90.92%, particle size of 176.7 nm, and zeta potential of -24.1 mV. Sustained drug release and efficient permeation across goat nasal mucosa were observed. Intranasal administration increased plasma exposure, producing approximately 5-fold higher relative bioavailability and a 4.1-fold increase in brain exposure compared with oral administration. In SH-SY5Y cells, the formulation reduced rotenone-induced oxidative stress and improved cell viability, indicating neuroprotective potential.

PEGylated MWCNT-mediated intranasal delivery enhanced rivastigmine bioavailability and brain exposure while demonstrating neuroprotective activity in vitro. These findings support further investigation of this nanocarrier platform as a strategy for brain-targeted delivery of rivastigmine.

Abstract from PubMed (PMID 43004651). This entry was added automatically by our daily literature monitor because it matches the topics we follow; read the full paper at the original source.