Figure 3

Mechanisms of drug transport through the BBB using nanocarriers conjugated to receptor-specific ligands and cationized ligands. (1) Receptor-mediated endocytosis of the nanocarrier; (1a) Exocytosis of the nanocarrier; (1b) Dissociation of the receptor from the ligand-conjugated nanocarrier and acidification of the vesicle leading to the degradation of the nanocarrier and the release of the drug into the brain; (1c and 1d) Recycling of receptors at the luminal cytoplasmic membrane; (2a) Adsorptive-mediated endocytosis of the nanocarrier conjugated to cationized ligands; (2b) Exocytosis of positively charged nanocarriers (adapted from [66]).