| abstract |
The subject compounds, which are adapted for the site-specific/sustained delivery of centrally acting drug species to the brain, are: (a) compounds of the formula [D-DHC](I) wherein [D] is a centrally acting drug species, and [DHC] is the reduced, biooxidizable, blood-brain barrier penetrating lipoidal form of a dihydropyridine-><-pyridinium salt redox carrier, with the proviso that when [DHC] is <IMAGE> wherein R is lower alkyl or benzyl and [D] is a drug species containing a single NH2 or OH functional group, the single OH group when present being a primary or secondary OH group, said drug species being linked directly through said NH2 or OH function group to the carbonyl function of [DHC], then [D] must be other than a sympathetic stimulant, steroid sex hormone or long chain alkanol; and (b) non-toxic pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds of formula (I) wherein [D] is a centrally acting drug species and [DHC] is the reduced, biooxidizable, blood-brain barrier penetrating lipoidal form of a dihydropyridine-><-pyridinium salt redox carrier. The corresponding ionic pyridinium salt type drug/carrier entitles [D-QC]+X- are also disclosed. |