Functionalized carbon nano onion as a novel drug delivery system for brain targeting

Pharmacologically active compounds having poor permeability through several physiological barriers often limits their application. New age therapeutics such as peptides or nucleic acid-based agents are promising but their targeted delivery to the brain is challenging through conventional drug delivery methods. The objective of using carbon nano onions is to develop potential nanoscale carriers for effective diagnosis and targeted therapies. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of such nanocarriers can also be controlled, enhancing the drug concentration at target sites.This review critically evaluates the current status of the carbon nano onion mediated targeted delivery of the drugs through nasal pathway bypassing the biological barriers.This intranasal drug delivery system can escape the first-pass metabolism, increases the bioavailability of the drug to the targeted area reduces the dose of chemotherapeutic reagents having serious side effects.