Approaches for CNS delivery of drugs - nose to brain targeting of anti-retroviral agents as a potential attempt for complete elimination of major reservoir site of HIV to aid AIDS treatment.

INTRODUCTION: HIV infections causing AIDS is one of the most life-threatening infections and is a leading cause of death. The CNS is reported to be the most important HIV reservoir site where the anti-retroviral drugs are not able to reach Areas covered: This article mainly includes the review about HIV infections and its pathogenesis, HIV infection in CNS and its consequences, current therapies, challenges associated with the existing therapies, approaches to overcome them, CNS delivery of drugs - barriers, transport routes and approaches for transporting drugs across the blood-brain barrier, nasal route of drug delivery and nose to brain targeting of anti-retroviral agents as a potential approach for complete cure of AIDS. Expert opinion: Various approaches are highly exploited by different researchers to enhance the drug delivery to brain via different routes for various categories of drugs. However, very few researchers have investigated on the delivery of anti-retrovirals to brain. Targeting anti-retrovirals to CNS through oral/nasal routes along with oral/parenteral delivery of drug to plasma can be a promising approach for an attempt to completely eradicate HIV reservoir and cure AIDS, after clinical trials. Further research is required to identify the exact location of HIV reservoir in CNS and developing good animal models for evaluation of different newly developed formulations.