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Review
. 2023 Dec 12;16(12):1721.
doi: 10.3390/ph16121721.

Single and Multitarget Systems for Drug Delivery and Detection: Up-to-Date Strategies for Brain Disorders

Clara Grosso  1 , Aurora Silva  1   2 , Cristina Delerue-Matos  1 , Maria Fátima Barroso  1
Affiliations
Review

Single and Multitarget Systems for Drug Delivery and Detection: Up-to-Date Strategies for Brain Disorders

Clara Grosso et al. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). .

Abstract

This review summarizes the recent findings on the development of different types of single and multitarget nanoparticles for disease detection and drug delivery to the brain, focusing on promising active principles encapsulated and nanoparticle surface modification and functionalization. Functionalized nanoparticles have emerged as promising tools for the diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders, offering a novel approach to addressing complex neurological challenges. They can act as drug delivery vehicles, transporting one or multiple therapeutic agents across the blood-brain barrier and precisely releasing them at the site of action. In diagnostics, functionalized nanoparticles can serve as highly sensitive contrast agents for imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scans. By attaching targeting ligands to the nanoparticles, they can selectively accumulate in the affected areas of the brain, enhancing the accuracy of disease detection. This enables early diagnosis and monitoring of conditions like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases. While the field is still evolving, functionalized nanoparticles represent a promising path for advancing our ability to diagnose and treat brain disorders with greater precision, reduced invasiveness, and improved therapeutic outcomes.

Keywords: blood–brain barrier; drug delivery; early diagnosis; multifactorial disorders; nanoparticles.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Most common types of nanoparticles and functionalization strategies for brain disorder diagnostics and treatment. Created using BioRender.com (accessed on 15 October 2023).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Transport mechanism across the BBB. Created using BioRender.com (accessed on 20 November 2023).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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