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Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience pp 301–336Cite as

Biological Barriers: Transdermal, Oral, Mucosal, Blood Brain Barrier, and the Blood Eye Barrier

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Abstract

Compartmentalisation is a precondition for the development of life, allowing concentration gradients to be maintained, facilitating selective transport of molecules, functional polarisation, protection of cells and tissues. Consequently, organisms have evolved highly sophisticated structures and mechanisms that allow compartmentalisation to be maintained and controlled in a highly regulated fashion.

Under normal conditions these compartmentalising structures are essential building blocks of life, their smooth functioning being central to our health. However, the same effectiveness that is a bonus under physiological conditions means the same structures may become considerable barriers to the pharmacotherapy of diseases, as access of drugs to the sites of disease may be severely restricted. This chapter describes the architecture, organisation, and function of key barriers that therapeutic nanoparticles may encounter for the most important routes of drug administration. The epithelial barriers (skin, mucosa of the airways, and gastrointestinal tract) and endothelial barriers share many commonalities as they all share key design elements that have evolved to support compartmentalisation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics and Biochemistry, University of London School of Pharmacy, London, UK

    Preethi Marimuthu

  2. UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29 - 39 Brunswick Square, London, WC1N 1AX, UK

    Andreas G. Schätzlein

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  1. Preethi Marimuthu
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  2. Andreas G. Schätzlein
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Correspondence to Andreas G. Schätzlein .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Ijeoma F. Uchegbu

  2. UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Andreas G. Schätzlein

  3. Bexleyheath, United Kingdom

    Woei Ping Cheng

  4. School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom

    Aikaterini Lalatsa

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Marimuthu, P., Schätzlein, A.G. (2013). Biological Barriers: Transdermal, Oral, Mucosal, Blood Brain Barrier, and the Blood Eye Barrier. In: Uchegbu, I., Schätzlein, A., Cheng, W., Lalatsa, A. (eds) Fundamentals of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9164-4_12

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