Groups of nerve cells

have special jobs.

Keeping everything

running requires

coordination as well as

large amounts of fuel

and oxygen.

The brain has 100 billion nerve cells (neurons).

Each nerve cell connects with many others to

form communication networks.

Alzheimer's disease prevents

parts of a cell's factory from

running well. just like a real

factory, backups and

breakdowns in one system

cause problems in other

areas.

As damage spreads, cells

lose their ability to do their

jobs and, eventually

die, causing irreversible

changes in the brain.

Two abnormal structures

called plaques and tangles

are prime suspects in

damaging and killing nerve

cells.

Though most people

develop some plaques and

tangles as they age, those

with Alzheimer's tend to

develop far more.

Scientists do not know

exactly what role plaques

and tangles play in

Alzheimer's disease.

Most experts believe they somehow play a

critical role in blocking communication among

nerve cells and disrupting processes that cells

need to survive.

Alzheimer's

association

estimated that the

economic cost of

Alzheimer's disease

(AD) health care

system is 80-100

billion dollars

presently in the U.S.

Loss of cholinergic synapses in hippocampus

and neocortex has been a consistent finding in

AD.

Although advent of AChE inhibitors has been

effective in function. Yet, there has been

augmenting need to quest for new drugs.

Because of their potential anti-oxidative

properties, moringa plants provide wealth of

bioactive compounds, which exert a substantial

strategy for the treatment of neurological

disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

The objective of this research is to prepare malunggay extracted flavonoids ,load it on chitosan nanoparticles as a carrier system via nose-to-brain delivery, for the treatment of” Alzheimer's disease”.

It has been found recently that Moringaoleifera leaf extract ”flavonoids” enhances memory via nootropics activity and provides substantial antioxidants like vitamin C and E to combat oxidative stress in AD.

using polysorbate 80 coated chitosan

nanoparticles as brain delivery carriers .

Chitosan was selected for nanoparticles

because of its recognized mucoadhesivity and

ability to enhance the penetration of large

molecules across mucosal surface.

Gallic tannins

Catechol tennins

Steroids & triterpenoids

Flavonoids

Saponins

Anthraquinones

Alkaloids

Reducing sugars

Why Nano-carrier?

The blood brain barrier (BBB) is an obstacle

for large number of drugs particularly the

neuropeptides .

Nanoparticles loaded with drugs show drug

release at right rate and dose at specific sites

in the body for a certain time to realize the

accurate delivery, which enhances the

therapeutic effect and reduces the toxicity and

side effects.

Why Chitosan?

Chitosan is a biodegradable, biocompatible

and bioadhesive polysaccharide .

Chitosan is non-toxic and soft tissue

compatible in a range of toxicity tests.

Widely used in pharmaceutical researches

and in industry as a carrier for drug delivery

and as biomedical material.

Nano preparations

Top-down approach

Bottom –up approach

“Top-Down” approach

involves the breaking

down of large pieces of

material to generate the

required nanostructures

from them.

This method is

particularly suitable for

making interconnected

and integrated structures

such as in electronic

circuitry.

“Bottom-Up”

approach, single atoms and molecules are

assembled into larger nanostructures.

This is a very powerful method of creating

identical structures with atomic precision.

Preparation of Chitosan NPs:

Flavonoids-loaded chitosannanoparticles can be prepared by dissolving the extract (flavonoids) in chitosan solution containing Tween 80 as a re-suspending agent to prevent

particle aggregation, before adding TPP.

At ambient temperature while stirring.

Bottom –up approach

Expected outcome

It is hypothesized that muco-

adhesive nanoparticles as

intranasal formulation is an

alternative drug delivery systems

which can result in nose-to-brain

transport of moringa olifera leaves

extract and greater drug transport

and distribution into and within the

brain.

This can help to maximize the therapeutic index of the active

components, reduce side effects, decrease the dose and

frequency of dosing, and perhaps even the cost of the therapy.