Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms and Autophagy Induction by Zerumbone in Microglia and Development of PEGylated Zerumbone-Loaded Intranasal Liposomes for Nose-to-Brain Delivery in Rats

This thesis presents a multi-phase study that explores the therapeutic potential of a natural compound called zerumbone in neurodegenerative diseases, and develops a nose-to-brain nanodelivery system to overcome the biological barriers limiting drug delivery to the brain. This study begins by applying network science to unravel the molecular complexity and identify key targets of these diseases. Subsequently, the effects of zerumbone on brain inflammation were tested in brain immune cells and a nanoparticle-based nose-to-brain delivery system was designed to improve its brain availability. This work bridges biological understanding with practical treatment strategies, helping advance the development of new therapies.