When considering perceived obstacles to coveted achievements - the four minute mark when running a mile or the speed of sound in aviation - a biological barrier that frustrates efforts to develop critically-needed new drugs for brain diseases makes many others pale in comparison. That security-minded firewall in the brain, called the blood-brain barrier, is the topic of a fascinating story in Chemical & Engineering News, ACS' weekly newsmagazine.
The article, written by C&EN Associate Editor Sarah Everts, explains that the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a tightly knit layer of cells lining the 400 miles of blood vessels in the brain. Intended to protect delicate nerve cells from potentially toxic compounds in the blood, and assure a steady-state chemical environment, the BBB also prevents most actual and would- be drugs from entering the brain.
In doing so, the BBB frustrates efforts by scientists to develop new drugs that could benefit millions of people with clinical depression, stroke, Parkinson's disease, and a range of other conditions. The article describes research efforts to develop medications that are better at penetrating the barrier.
ARTICLE # 5 "Brain Barricade: Tackling the grueling challenge of getting brain therapies across the blood brain barrier"
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Contact: Michael Woods
American Chemical Society
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