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Review
. 2013 May 21:2013:238428.
doi: 10.1155/2013/238428. eCollection 2013.

Nanoparticles for brain drug delivery

Massimo Masserini  1
Affiliations
Review

Nanoparticles for brain drug delivery

Massimo Masserini. ISRN Biochem. .

Abstract

The central nervous system, one of the most delicate microenvironments of the body, is protected by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulating its homeostasis. BBB is a highly complex structure that tightly regulates the movement of ions of a limited number of small molecules and of an even more restricted number of macromolecules from the blood to the brain, protecting it from injuries and diseases. However, the BBB also significantly precludes the delivery of drugs to the brain, thus, preventing the therapy of a number of neurological disorders. As a consequence, several strategies are currently being sought after to enhance the delivery of drugs across the BBB. Within this review, the recently born strategy of brain drug delivery based on the use of nanoparticles, multifunctional drug delivery systems with size in the order of one-billionth of meters, is described. The review also includes a brief description of the structural and physiological features of the barrier and of the most utilized nanoparticles for medical use. Finally, the potential neurotoxicity of nanoparticles is discussed, and future technological approaches are described. The strong efforts to allow the translation from preclinical to concrete clinical applications are worth the economic investments.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Different types of nanoparticles (NPs). Graphical representation of the most commonly used NPs for biomedical applications. NPs are typically by a size measuring not more than 100 nm and have significant potential for delivering drugs across the blood-brain barrier. The size of quantum dots is usually less than 10 nm.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Multifunctionalized nanoparticles (NPs). Graphical representation of surface-modified NPs with drugs (incorporated within the core of NPs or conjugated to the surface), targeting molecules (antibodies, peptides, aptamers, and cationic molecules) for brain drug delivery, with PEG for stealthiness and with fluorescent probe as a tracer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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