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Review
. 2021 Nov 11:16:7517-7533.
doi: 10.2147/IJN.S333657. eCollection 2021.

Potential of Nanocarrier-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Brain Targeting: A Current Review of Literature

Badriyah Shadid Alotaibi  1 , Manal Buabeid  2   3 , Nihal Abdalla Ibrahim  2   3 , Zelal Jaber Kharaba  4 , Munazza Ijaz  5 , Sobia Noreen  6 , Ghulam Murtaza  7
Affiliations
Review

Potential of Nanocarrier-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Brain Targeting: A Current Review of Literature

Badriyah Shadid Alotaibi et al. Int J Nanomedicine. .

Erratum in

Abstract

The advent of nanotechnologies such as nanocarriers and nanotherapeutics has changed the treatment strategy and developed a more efficacious novel drug delivery system. Various drug delivery systems are focused on drug-targeting of brain cells. However, the manifestation of the brain barrier is the main hurdle for the effective delivery of chemotherapeutics, ultimately causing treatment failure of various drugs. To solve this problem, various nanocarrier-based drug delivery system has been developed for brain targeting. This review outlines nanocarrier-based composites for different brain diseases and highlights nanocarriers for drug targeting towards brain cells. It also summarizes the latest developments in nanocarrier-based delivery systems containing liposomal systems, dendrimers, polymeric micelles, polymeric nanocarriers, quantum dots (QDs), and gold nanoparticles. Besides, the optimal properties of nanocarriers and therapeutic implications for brain targeting have been extensively studied. Finally, the potential applications and research opportunities for nanocarriers in brain targeting are discussed.

Keywords: blood–brain barrier; brain targeting; in-vivo; nanocarriers; nanotherapeutics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Novel nanocarriers and their penetration through BBB for brain targeting.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Presentation of the main liposomal medications and targeting agents that improve liposomal affinity and brain targeting.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Scientific approach for ligand-decorated nanoparticles, linked to PEG for brain targeting.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Mechanism of polymeric nanoparticles for brain tumor.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Modified Au nanoparticles for improved BBB penetration with neuron-targeted exosome.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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