Intranasal drug delivery exhibits therapeutic potential for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, as it allows pharmaceuticals to bypass the blood-brain barrier (BBB) via the olfactory and trigeminal pathways. The primary advantage of this method lies in its non-invasiveness and low systemic toxicity. Nevertheless, this delivery method faces notable challenges, including limited nasal mucosal absorption and short residence time in the olfactory region. To address these limitations, intranasal nanomedicine has gained research attention. Nanomedicines can improve brain bioavailability by enhancing drug solubility, permeability, and stability. The following discussion summarizes recent advancements in nanotechnology-enabled nose-to-brain delivery systems, with the aim of synthesizing progress in the field and outlining future research directions.
Yang et al. (2026) studied this question.