1- Medical Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2- Department of Surgical Technology, Paramedical School, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran ,chehrehgosha2008@gmail.com
2- Department of Surgical Technology, Paramedical School, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran ,
Abstract: (331 Views)
In patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dysphagia — a condition affecting most individuals with moderate-to-severe dementia — novel drug delivery systems (NDDS), including orally disintegrating tablets, transdermal patches, and intranasal sprays, offer a promising approach to improving medication adherence. These delivery modalities enhance compliance, provide more stable drug exposure, reduce swallowing-related complications such as aspiration pneumonia, and facilitate integration with non-pharmacological interventions by eliminating the need for oral swallowing. However, their implementation faces several challenges, including skin sensitivity associated with transdermal systems, nasal irritation with intranasal formulations, regulatory hurdles related to advanced nanocarrier technologies, and the need for supportive health policies and caregiver education to ensure equitable and effective use across diverse care settings.
References
1. Mira A, Gonçalves R, Rodrigues IT. Dysphagia in Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review. Dement Neuropsychol. 2022;16(3):261–9. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
2. Michel A, Vérin E, Gbaguidi X, Druesne L, Roca F, Chassagne P. Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Community-Dwelling Older Patients with Dementia: Prevalence and Relationship with Geriatric Parameters. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2018;19(9):770–4. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
3. Emre M, Bernabei R, Blesa R, Bullock R, Cunha L, Daniëls H, et al. Drug Profile: Transdermal Rivastigmine Patch in the Treatment of Alzheimer Disease. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2010;16(4):246–53. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
4. Harnett A, Byrne S, O’Connor J, Lyons D, Sahm LJ. Adult Patients with Difficulty Swallowing Oral Dosage Forms: A Systematic Review of the Quantitative Literature. Pharmacy. 2023;11(5):167. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
5. Cheng H, Deng X, Li J, Tang Y, Yuan S, Huang X, et al. Associations Between Dysphagia and Adverse Health Outcomes in Older Adults with Dementia in Intensive Care Units: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Clin Interv Aging. 2023;18:1233–48. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
6. Pathak U, Vashistha V, Arora S. Novel Drug Delivery Systems: Advances & Challenges. IJFMR. 2025;7(3):2582-160. [View at Publisher] [DOI]
7. Ozceylan O, Sezgin-Bayindir Z. Current Overview on the Use of Nanosized Drug Delivery Systems in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases. ACS Omega. 2024 Aug 5;9(33):35223–42. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
8. Wang K, Yang R, Li J, Wang H, Wan L, He J. Nanocarrier-based targeted drug delivery for Alzheimer’s disease: addressing neuroinflammation and enhancing clinical translation. Front Pharmacol. 2025:16:1591438. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
9. Shen Y-C, Lee M-Y, Lin CCH, Chen C-H. Orally disintegrating olanzapine for the treatment of a manic patient with esophageal stricture plus chronic pharyngitis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2007;31(2):541–2. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
10. Oertel W, Ross JS, Eggert K, Adler G. Rationale for transdermal drug administration in Alzheimer disease. Neurology. 2007;69(4 Suppl 1):S4-9. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
11. Tablet Disintegration - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics [Internet]. [cited 2026 Jan 5]. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/tablet-disintegration [view at publisher]
12. Constantinou C, Meliou K, Skouras A, Siafaka P, Christodoulou P. Liposomes against Alzheimer’s Disease: Current Research and Future Prospects. Biomedicines. 2024;12(7):1519. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
13. Taléns-Visconti R, de Julián-Ortiz JV, Vila-Busó O, Diez-Sales O, Nácher A. Intranasal Drug Administration in Alzheimer-Type Dementia: Towards Clinical Applications. Pharmaceutics. 2023;15(5):1399. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
14. Nunes D, Loureiro JA, Pereira MC. Drug Delivery Systems as a Strategy to Improve the Efficacy of FDA-Approved Alzheimer’s Drugs. Pharmaceutics. 2022;14(11):2296. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
15. de Oliveira GD, Vicente LCC, Mourão AM, Dos Santos SHGP, Silva UM, Friche AA de L, et al. Screening for dysphagia in older people with dementia: Evidence of validity based on internal structure and reliability of the Caregiver Questionnaire - RaDID-QC. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2024;79:100440. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
16. Michel A, Vérin E, Gbaguidi X, Druesne L, Roca F, Chassagne P. Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in Community-Dwelling Older Patients with Dementia: Prevalence and Relationship with Geriatric Parameters. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2018;19(9):770–4. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
17. Drumond N, Stegemann S. Better Medicines for Older Patients: Considerations between Patient Characteristics and Solid Oral Dosage Form Designs to Improve Swallowing Experience. Pharmaceutics. 2020;13(1):32. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
18. ÖZEN MI, Kerimoglu O. Evaluation and characterization of orally disintegrating films loaded donepezil hydrochloride for Alzheimer’s disease. J Res Pharm. 2023;27(2):893-902. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [Google Scholar]
19. Kumar A, Sudevan ST, Nair AS, Singh AK, Kumar S, Jose J, et al. Current and Future Nano-Carrier-Based Approaches in the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. Brain Sci. 2023;13(2):213. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
20. Cummings JL, Zhou Y, Van Stone A, Cammann D, Tonegawa-Kuji R, Fonseca J, et al. Drug repurposing for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Nat Commun. 2025;16(1):1755. [View at Publisher] [DOI] [PMID] [Google Scholar]
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
