The blood-brain barrier can make it difficult to deliver therapeutic drugs to treat brain disorders.The composition of the blood-brain barrier makes it most easily crossed by
A) fat-soluble substances.
B) glucose.
C) astrocytes.
D) immune cells.
E) antibodies.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The blood-brain barrier consists of tightly packed cells of the capillary walls along with astrocytes, making it difficult for molecules to pass through. However, fat-soluble substances can easily diffuse through the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane to cross the blood-brain barrier. This is why many drugs that target the central nervous system are designed to be lipid-soluble. Glucose, immune cells, and antibodies are not able to cross the blood-brain barrier easily. While astrocytes play a role in forming the blood-brain barrier, they do not provide a means for molecules to cross it.

The Blood-Brain Barrier Can Make It Difficult to Deliver Therapeutic