Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Central Nervous System Applications
Summary
The treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders remains hampered by the selective permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which restricts the entry of most pharmacological agents. Nanoparticle-based delivery systems offer a versatile platform to overcome this obstacle through precise control of size, surface chemistry and functionality. Typical carriers include polymeric nanoparticles, lipid-based vesicles, inorganic nanostructures and dendrimers, each capable of encapsulating small molecules, peptides, nucleic acids or proteins. Surface modifications—such as ligand conjugation, surfactant coating or stimulus-sensitive moieties—enable receptor-mediated and adsorptive-mediated transcytosis across the BBB. Multifunctional designs allow co-delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents, opening avenues for real-time imaging and theranostics. Preclinical studies in models of glioma, neurodegeneration and stroke have demonstrated enhanced brain accumulation, targeted release and improved functional outcomes. Current challenges centre on large-scale manufacturing, long-term safety, immunogenicity and clearance pathways. Ongoing research focuses on biodegradable materials, precision targeting, stimuli-responsive release and integration with clinical imaging modalities to accelerate translation into human therapies.
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Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Central Nervous System Applications publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for central nervous system applications across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Blood–brain barrier (BBB): Dynamic interface of endothelial cells that restricts passage of most molecules into the central nervous system.
Nanoparticle: Engineered particle in the 1–100 nm range used as a carrier for therapeutic agents.
Dendrimer: Highly branched, tree-like polymer with internal cavities for drug encapsulation and precise size control.
Transcytosis: Cellular process by which molecules are transported across endothelial cells.
Mucoadhesion: Adhesive interaction with mucous membranes facilitating drug absorption and transport.
Microglia: Resident immune cells of the central nervous system involved in inflammatory responses.
References
- Dendrimer-Based Drug Delivery Systems for Brain Targeting. Biomolecules (2019).
- From Adsorption to Covalent Bonding: Apolipoprotein E Functionalization of Polymeric Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Across the Blood–Brain Barrier. Advanced Therapeutics (2020).
- Multifunctional Polymeric Nanoplatforms for Brain Diseases Diagnosis, Therapy and Theranostics. Biomedicines (2020).
- Dendrimer size effects on the selective brain tumor targeting in orthotopic tumor models upon systemic administration. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine (2020).
- Nanoparticles: A Hope for the Treatment of Inflammation in CNS. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2021).
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