Dantrolene: could intranasal administration penetrate the brain more effectively?

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (PA, USA) have determined that in mice, nasal administration of the muscle relaxant dantrolene allows the drug to remain in the brain for longer than when given orally. The results of the study, published in PLOS One, present nasal administration of dantrolene as a potential long-term treatment option for neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies in cellular and animal models suggest that dantrolene can improve mental function and have therapeutic efficacy against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. However, oral delivery of the muscle relaxant does not allow effective delivery into the central...