Nanotechnology Applications to Pediatric Neurosurgery

Nanotechnology holds promise in pediatric neurosurgery, offering advancements in smart catheters, nanosensors, targeting strategies, and biomaterials to improve neurologic disorders’ treatment. Applications in hydrocephalus include reducing bacterial colonization on catheters through silver nanoparticles and designing catheters with filtering membrane tips to prevent obstructions. Nanotechnology also shows potential in monitoring cerebral ventricular volume, enhancing treatments for cerebral trauma and arteriovenous malformations, and revolutionizing molecular imaging with quantum dots. Moreover, chlorotoxin-labeled nanoparticles hold promise for gene delivery in glioma treatment, while magnetic fluid hyperthermia and plasmonic nanobubbles offer innovative therapeutic approaches. Future directions involve developing combination therapies, assessing nanoconjugate safety and efficacy, and furthering minimally invasive techniques in pediatric neurosurgery.