A microdialysis model to examine nasal drug delivery and olfactory absorption in rats using lidocaine hydrochloride as a model drug.

Targeting of the central nervous system by direct drug transport from the nose to the brain has gained increased attention through the last decade. In the present study, a model for olfactory drug absorption has been investigated using intravenous and unilateral nasal administration of lidocaine hydrochloride in rats. To investigate the possible drug delivery aspects of this route of transport to a central part of the brain a microdialysis model using in vivo recovery by calibrator was applied to the systemic blood and to right and left striatum. The integrity of the blood-brain barrier was evaluated following microdialysis probe implantation. The in vivo experiments were carried out as a cross-over study in rats. The drainage from the nasal cavity was not restricted by occlusion. It was found that true unbound lidocaine concentrations could be calculated from in vivo recovery measurements of retrodialysis of prilocaine hydrochloride. The relative in vivo recoveries in striatum (11.3%) and blood (24.0%) were significantly lower than in vitro (31.3 and 44.9%). The blood-brain barrier was found to retain its physical integrity when evaluated one hour after probe implantation. From pharmacokinetic modelling of the time-concentration curves it was found that the absorption rates and area under the curve (AUC) values of lidocaine in left and right striatum were not statistically different following nasal and intravenous administration, respectively. The average nasal bioavailabilities of lidocaine in blood, left and right striatum were 85, 103 and 129%, respectively. It was concluded that no significant olfactory absorption to striatum was evident in the present study. However, the method should be applicable to studies of drug delivery to blood and brain following nasal administration of other drugs.