Nanotechnology Applications in Glioma Therapy

Gliomas, particularly glioblastoma, remain among the most challenging cancers due to the protective nature of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), rapid infiltrative growth and intrinsic resistance to conventional therapies. Nanotechnology offers a suite of versatile platforms—ranging from lipid‐based carriers and polymeric micelles to inorganic and protein‐based nanoparticles—to enhance drug delivery, imaging and immunomodulation within the central nervous system. By tailoring size, surface chemistry and targeting ligands, nanoparticles can exploit both passive mechanisms such as the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect in leaky tumour microvasculature and active receptor‐mediated transcytosis to cross the BBB. Multifunctional systems integrate chemotherapeutics, small interfering RNA (siRNA) or radiosensitising agents with diagnostic reporters, enabling precise localisation, real‐time monitoring and controlled release. Recent advances focus on overcoming multidrug resistance, minimising off‐target toxicity and recruiting the immune system to establish long‐term anti‐glioma surveillance. Collectively, these approaches aim to transform palliative care into truly personalised, curative strategies.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Innovative combination therapies have been developed using transferrin‐functionalised nanoparticles to co‐deliver temozolomide and bromodomain inhibitors directly to glioma cells. Such constructs traverse intact BBB in murine models, induce enhanced DNA damage and apoptotic responses, and double survival compared with free drugs while reducing systemic toxicity. Synthetic protein nanoparticles based on polymerised human serum albumin and decorated with cell‐penetrating peptides have been employed to package siRNA against STAT3. When used alongside ionising radiation, these particles lead to complete tumour regression and long‐term survival in most treated animals by downregulating a central oncogenic hub and priming anti‐tumour immunity. Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles carrying doxorubicin have been stabilised with silane ligands to facilitate acidic pH‐triggered release within glioma cells. These carriers demonstrate efficient uptake across BBB models, potent apoptotic induction in vitro and the capacity for external magnetic targeting, overcoming both the BBB and multidrug resistance in glioma cells.

Nanotechnology Applications in Glioma Therapy publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanotechnology applications in glioma therapy across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB): A selective endothelial interface that restricts the passage of most macromolecules and cells into the central nervous system.

Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect: Passive accumulation of nanoparticles in tumour tissue due to abnormal microvascular permeability and impaired lymphatic drainage.

Mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN): A silica‐based carrier with uniformly sized pores, high surface area and tunable chemistry for drug loading and release.

Synthetic protein nanoparticle (SPNP): A nanocarrier assembled from polymerised proteins, often functionalised with peptides, designed to mimic viral or natural transport mechanisms across biological barriers.

References

1. Enhanced efficacy of combined temozolomide and bromodomain inhibitor therapy for gliomas using targeted nanoparticles. Nature Communications (2018).
2. Systemic brain tumor delivery of synthetic protein nanoparticles for glioblastoma therapy. Nature Communications (2020).
3. Doxorubicin-loaded iron oxide nanoparticles for glioblastoma therapy: a combinational approach for enhanced delivery of nanoparticles. Scientific Reports (2020).
4. Receptor Ligand-Free Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: A Streamlined Strategy for Targeted Drug Delivery across the Blood–Brain Barrier. ACS Nano (2024).
5. Nano-Therapies for Glioblastoma Treatment. Cancers (2020).