Nanotechnology Based Theranostic Approaches in Alzheimer's Disease Management: Current Status and Future Perspective

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), a cognitive dysfunction/dementia state amongst the elders is characterized by irreversible neurodegeneration due to varied pathophysiology. Up till now, anti-AD drugs having different pharmacology have been developed and used in clinic. Yet, these medications are not curative and only lowering the AD associated symptoms. Improvement in treatment outcome required drug targeting across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to the central nervous system (CNS) in optimal therapeutic concentration. Nanotechnology based diagnostic tools, drug carriers and theranostics offer highly sensitive molecular detection, effective drug targeting and their combination. Over the past decade, significant works have been done in this area and we have seen very remarkable outocome in AD therapy. Various nanoparticles from organic and inorganic nanomaterial category have successfully been investigated against AD.

Conclusion: This paper discussed the role of nanoparticles in early detection of AD, effective drug targeting to brain and theranostic (diagnosis and therapy) approaches in AD's management.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; blood brain barrier; diagnosis; nanomedicines; nanoparticles; theranostic.

Fig. (1)

Drawing presenting the nanoparticles facilitating drug/biologicals transport across the BBB: [A] on systemic application/absorption in blood stream, nanoparticles carrying AD’s drugs reached to the BBB, [B] get absorbed across BBB by following possible mechanisms (indicated here in figure), and [C] further reach the AD affected area and depending on their mode of action may act on the cholinergic system, amyloid plaque, tau protein and/or excessive oxidative load [Adapted and reprinted by permission from the Bentham Science for CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets: Reference 98].