Title : Emerging technological advances in drug development and targeted delivery for brain disorders.

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) plays a crucial role in protecting the brain by restricting the entry of toxic substances; however, it also limits the delivery of many therapeutic drugs to the central nervous system (CNS). Although conditions such as tumors and stroke can enhance BBB permeability, the heterogeneity of this disruption makes drug transport highly unpredictable. To overcome these limitations, nanomedicine has gained significant attention as an effective approach for improving drug penetration into the brain. In particular, active targeting strategies involving ligand-functionalized nanoparticles enable specific interaction with brain endothelial cells, ensuring controlled and efficient drug delivery compared to conventional methods. Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases, are characterized by progressive neuronal loss and cognitive impairment, representing a major global health challenge. Given their multifactorial nature, these disorders require advanced therapeutic strategies. Nanotherapeutics offer promising potential to overcome physiological barriers such as the BBB and blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier (B-CSFB), while enhancing drug solubility, prolonging circulation time, and minimizing off-target effects. Therefore, the advancement of nanomedicine-based approaches is essential for developing effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Niharika Lal is an accomplished academician and researcher, currently serving as an Associate Professor at Metro College of Health Sciences and Research, Greater Noida. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Pharm in Pharmaceutics, with over 10 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic mentorship. She has published more than 50 research articles in reputed international journals indexed in Scopus and SCI, demonstrating her strong contribution to pharmaceutical sciences.

Her doctoral research focused on the design and characterization of acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive-based transdermal therapeutic systems, which received recognition from IIT Kharagpur. Her areas of expertise include transdermal and gastroretentive drug delivery systems, with a focus on improving drug bioavailability and targeted delivery. She has also presented her work at international conferences, including Magnus and the 4th European Congress on Human Genetics.

Dr. Lal is known for delivering insightful and engaging academic sessions