Bacterial and bacterial derivatives-based drug delivery systems: a novel approach for treating central nervous system disorders.

in Expert opinion on drug delivery by Shizhu Gao, Xin Li, Bing Han

TLDR

  • Bacterial carriers can deliver medicine to the brain for precise treatment of CNS diseases, offering novel precision medicine solutions.
  • Researchers are designing and applying bacterial drug delivery systems to target specific brain diseases.
  • AI-driven design and high-throughput engineering will enhance treatment precision and overcome challenges in the future.

Abstract

Bacteria and their derivatives show great potential as drug delivery systems due to their unique chemotaxis, biocompatibility, and targeting abilities. In CNS disease treatment, bacterial carriers can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and deliver drugs precisely, overcoming limitations of traditional methods. Advances in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, and nanotechnology have transformed these systems into multifunctional platforms for personalized CNS treatment. This review examines the latest research on bacterial carriers for treating ischemic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases, and gliomas. Bacteria efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier via active targeting, endocytosis, paracellular transport, and the nose-to-brain route for precise drug delivery. Various bacterial drug delivery systems, such as OMVs and bacterial ghosts, are explored for their design and application. Databases were searched in Google Scholar for the period up to December 2024. Future developments in bacterial drug delivery will rely on AI-driven design and high-throughput engineering, enhancing treatment precision. Personalized medicine will further optimize bacterial carriers for individual patients, but challenges such as biosafety, immune rejection, and scalability must be addressed. As multimodal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies advance, bacterial carriers are expected to play a central role in CNS disease treatment, offering novel precision medicine solutions.

Overview

  • The study focuses on bacterial carriers as drug delivery systems for treating CNS diseases, exploring their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and deliver drugs precisely.
  • The methodology includes a review of latest research on bacterial carriers for treating ischemic brain injury, neurodegenerative diseases, and gliomas, as well as their design and application.
  • The primary objective is to examine the potential of bacterial carriers as personalized medicine solutions for CNS disease treatment, addressing limitations of traditional methods.

Comparative Analysis & Findings

  • Bacteria efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier via active targeting, endocytosis, paracellular transport, and the nose-to-brain route for precise drug delivery.
  • Various bacterial drug delivery systems, such as OMVs and bacterial ghosts, are explored for their design and application in treating CNS diseases.
  • Future developments rely on AI-driven design and high-throughput engineering, enhancing treatment precision and addressing challenges such as biosafety, immune rejection, and scalability.

Implications and Future Directions

  • Bacterial carriers are expected to play a central role in CNS disease treatment, offering novel precision medicine solutions.
  • Personalized medicine will optimize bacterial carriers for individual patients, but challenges need to be addressed, including biosafety, immune rejection, and scalability.
  • Future advancements will rely on AI-driven design and high-throughput engineering to enhance treatment precision and overcome existing limitations.