Modernistic and Emerging Developments of Nanotechnology in Glioblastoma-Targeted Theranostic Applications

Abstract

Brain tumors such as glioblastoma are typically associated with an unstoppable cell proliferation with aggressive infiltration behavior and a shortened life span. Though treatment options such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy are available in combating glioblastoma, satisfactory therapeutics are still not available due to the high impermeability of the blood-brain barrier. To address these concerns, recently, multifarious theranostics based on nanotechnology have been developed, which can deal with diagnosis and therapy together. The multifunctional nanomaterials find a strategic path against glioblastoma by adjoining novel thermal and magnetic therapy approaches. Their convenient combination of specific features such as real-time tracking, in-depth tissue penetration, drug-loading capacity, and contrasting performance is of great demand in the clinical investigation of glioblastoma. The potential benefits of nanomaterials including specificity, surface tunability, biodegradability, non-toxicity, ligand functionalization, and near-infrared (NIR) and photoacoustic (PA) imaging are sufficient in developing effective theranostics. This review discusses the recent developments in nanotechnology toward the diagnosis, drug delivery, and therapy regarding glioblastoma.

Keywords: blood–brain barrier; glioblastoma; nanotechnology; theranostics.

Figure 1

The overview of recent targeting therapies in glioblastoma.

Figure 2

(A) The illustration for the prevention of chemotherapy through gold nanoparticle-based L-aspartate-conjugated TMZ nanostructures, and (B) the scheme for induced radiosensitization by SPIONs-conjugated Hsp-70 antibodies.

Figure 3

Recently developed nanomaterials in the diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma.

Figure 4

Recent theranostic and targeting approaches of nanomaterials against glioblastoma.