Inovações tecnológicas no setor farmacêutico: a nanotecnologia e suas aplicações no tratamento da doença de Alzheimer

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is considered the degenerative disease with the highest incidence in Brazil. It is responsible for social and economic damages to patients with the disease and their caregivers and family members. Characterized by neuronal atrophy and synapse loss, due to unknown pathophysiology, current medications are responsible for slowing the progression of the disease, since high dosages are required to obtain the therapeutic effect, a factor responsible for several adverse effects, and consequently abandonment of therapy. Nanotechnology is a promising tool for the pharmaceutical industry to improve current and future drugs for the treatment of various neurological disorders. This study aimed to describe the main nanotechnologies applied in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, through a descriptive and qualitative bibliographic survey, in the main scientific platforms. The entire investigation was carried out in the English language from 2015 to 2021, the search terms were: “Nanoparticles”, “Drug delivery system”, “Alzheimer's disease”, “treatment of Alzheimer’s disease”. 10 articles were selected with in vitro and in vivo applications, aiming at the use of biomaterials as a tool for pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic improvement. The aforementioned studies have optimized the delivery of drug to the target of action and showed good neuronal activity.