Nanocarriers in the Treatment of Epilepsy: Challenges and Opportunities

Epilepsy is a disease of the central nervous system that is characterized by recurring seizures. Because of the complex nature of the brain's protective barriers and the limitations of current treatments, epilepsy is a problematic neurological disorder to treat. The challenges of developing efficacious treatments for epilepsy are examined in this study, with particular attention on the Brain Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier (BCSFB) and the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB). The drawbacks of traditional antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) highlight the need for novel strategies, especially for drug delivery methods based on nanocarriers. Different nanocarriers show potential for targeted drug administration in treating epilepsy, including liposomes, metallic nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), dendrimers, and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). However, for these nanocarriers to be effective, they must overcome the physiological and anatomical obstacles that prevent them from reaching the brain. This paper reviews the abovementioned points and the variables that affect nanocarriers' capacity to cross various brain barriers while highlighting the benefits of nanoformulated AEDs. It also explores the complex transport mechanisms that traverse the brain barriers, providing insight into possible approaches to improve drug delivery effectiveness and therapeutic outcomes in treating epilepsy.