High-frequency ultrasound imaging for monitoring the function of meningeal lymphatic system in mice

Micro/nanosystems for controllable drug delivery to the brain

Drug delivery to the brain is crucial in the treatment for central nervous system disorders. While significant progress has been made in recent years, there are still major challenges in achieving controllable drug delivery to the brain. Unmet clinical needs arise from various factors, including controlled drug transport, handling large drug doses, methods for crossing biological barriers, the use of imaging guidance, and effective models for analyzing drug delivery. Recent advances in micro/nanosystems have shown promise in addressing some of these challenges. These include the utilization of microfluidic platforms to test and validate the drug delivery process in a controlled and biomimetic setting, the development of novel micro/nanocarriers for large drug loads across the blood-brain barrier, and the implementation of micro-intervention systems for delivering drugs through intraparenchymal or peripheral routes. In this article, we present a review of the latest developments in micro/nanosystems for controllable drug delivery to the brain. We also delve into the relevant diseases, biological barriers, and conventional methods. In addition, we discuss future prospects and the development of emerging robotic micro/nanosystems equipped with directed transportation, real-time image guidance, and closed-loop control.

The cerebral lymphatic drainage system and its implications in epilepsy

The central nervous system has long been thought to lack a clearance system similar to the peripheral lymphatic system. Therefore, the clearance of metabolic waste in the central nervous system has been a subject of great interest in neuroscience. Recently, the cerebral lymphatic drainage system, including the parenchymal clearance system and the meningeal lymphatic network, has attracted considerable attention. It has been extensively studied in various neurological disorders. Solute accumulation and neuroinflammation after epilepsy impair the blood-brain barrier, affecting the exchange and clearance between cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid. Restoring their normal function may improve the prognosis of epilepsy. However, few studies have focused on providing a comprehensive overview of the brain clearance system and its significance in epilepsy. Therefore, this review addressed the structural composition, functions, and methods used to assess the cerebral lymphatic system, as well as the neglected association with epilepsy, and provided a theoretical basis for therapeutic approaches in epilepsy.