Preparation of a Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Loaded L-Dopa Composite Nano-Pharmaceutical and Its Therapeutic Effect on Parkinson’s Syndrome

Abstract

Parkinson’s syndrome (PD) is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease in the world. The chronic disability of PD and the long-term medication required to treat it imposes a huge economic burden on patients and society. Thus, enhancing the therapeutic effect of PD drugs while reducing the side effects caused by long-term drug use has become a challenge that researchers need to overcome. In this study, a compound drug—levodopa/carboxymethyl chitosan/resveratrol nanoparticles (LDP/CMCS/RVT NPs)—with both sustained release and neuroprotective effects was constructed based on carboxymethyl chitosan. The new LDP compound nano-drug can significantly promote glutathione levels of and superoxide dismutase in the substantia nigra and striatum of mice, while increasing the expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Based on these findings, LDP/CMCS/RVT NPs is expected to provide a new therapeutic strategy for the recovery of midbrain dopamine deficiency and neuroinflammatory changes in PD patients.