Haloperidol-loaded intranasally administered lectin functionalized poly(ethylene glycol)–block-poly(d,l)-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PEG–PLGA) nanoparticles for the treatment of schizophrenia

Lectin-functionalized, polyethylene glycol-block-poly-(D,L)-lactic-co-glycolic acid nanoparticles loaded with haloperidol were prepared with narrow size distributions and sizes <135nm. The nanoparticles exhibited high Solanum tuberosum lectin (STL) conjugation efficiencies, encapsulation efficiencies, and drug loading capacities. The in vitro release of haloperidol was 6-8% of the loaded amount in endo-lysosomal conditions over 96h, demonstrating minimal drug leakage and the potential for the efficient drug transport to the targeted brain tissue. The haloperidol released upon erosion was successful in displacing [(3)H] N-propylnorapomorphine and binding to bovine striatal dopamine D2 receptors. Both haloperidol-loaded nanoparticle formulations were found to be highly effective at inducing catalepsy. Intranasal administration of STL-functionalized nanoparticles increased the brain tissue haloperidol concentrations by 1.5-3-fold compared to non-STL-functionalized particles and other routes of administration. This formulation demonstrates promise in the reduction of the drug dose necessary to produce a therapeutic effect with antipsychotic drugs for the treatment of schizophrenia.