Modelling of the blood–brain barrier in drug discovery and development

The market for neuropharmaceuticals is potentially one of the largest sectors of the global pharmaceutical market owing to the increase in average life expectancy and the fact that many neurological disorders have been largely refractory to pharmacotherapy. The brain is a delicate organ that can efficiently protect itself from harmful compounds and precisely regulate its microenvironment. Unfortunately, the same mechanisms can also prove to be formidable hurdles in drug development. An improved understanding of the regulatory interfaces that exist between blood and brain may provide novel and more effective strategies to treat neurological disorders.