Abstract: The rate of trancytosis of antibodies across the blood-brain barrier is increased by cationizing the antibodies to provide cationized antibodies having an isoelectric point of between about 8.0 to 11.0. The increased rates of transport across the blood-brain barrier makes such cationized antibodies useful for both neurodiagnostic and neuropharmaceutical purposes. Methods for preparing such cationized antibodies are disclosed.

Abstract: Chimeric peptides adapted for delivering neuropharmaceutical agents, such as neuropeptides into the brain by receptor-mediated transcytosis through the blood-brain barrier. The chimeric peptides include a peptide which by itself is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier by transcytosis at a relatively high rate. The transportable peptide is conjugated to a hydrophilic neuropeptide which by itself is transportable only at a very low rate into the brain across the blood-brain barrier. The resulting chimeric peptide is transported into the brain at a much higher rate than the neuropeptide alone to thereby provide an effective means for introducing hydrophilic neuropeptides into the brain through the blood-brain barrier.