Russian Scientists Develop Nasal Drug Delivery for Brain Tumors

Scientists at Sechenov University in Russia have engineered a drug delivery system designed to combat brain tumors by administering medication through the nasal passage, utilizing gellan gum as a key component. The innovation allows the drug to remain at the absorption site for up to six hours, according to a statement from the university's press office.

The development was carried out by young researchers at the Nelyubin Institute of Pharmacy, part of Sechenov University. They created what they describe as a "smart" nasal dosage form based on gellan gum, which enables the drug to linger on the nasal mucosa for an extended period and deliver the active substance directly to the brain, bypassing the blood-brain barrier.

How the System Works

Professor Elena Bakhrushina, from the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, explained that the drug transforms into a gel upon contact with the nasal mucosa. This gelation process allows it to stay at the absorption site for up to six hours, ensuring prolonged effectiveness and high bioavailability.

The researchers used ribavirin as the active component in this local absorption system. Bakhrushina noted that multiple clinical studies have confirmed ribavirin's anti-tumor effects, with recent research demonstrating its efficacy against glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive types of central nervous system cancers.

Animal Testing Results

Animal studies have validated the mechanism by which ribavirin penetrates directly from the nose to the brain. The results showed that the concentration of the active substance in the brain was several times higher than in the bloodstream.

The researchers reported that the drug remained in the animals' nasal mucosa for a full 24 hours. Furthermore, histological analysis of the nasal mucosa conducted after the experiment revealed no pathological changes in any of the test animals.