Theranostic Potential of Nanomaterials in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Insights into Biosensing, Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are challenging to cure due to the brain’s complexity, unclear disease mechanisms, irreversible neuron damage at symptom onset, and the hindrance of the blood-brain barrier. These diseases result from multifactorial causes, making a single cure elusive. Despite progress in understanding and symptom management, achieving a definitive cure remains a complex and ongoing challenge for the medical community. To bridge this disparity, nanomaterials have initiated a revolutionary transformation in the treatment of NDDs, introducing novel strategies for enhanced biosensing, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. They enable highly sensitive detection of NDD biomarkers, facilitating early diagnosis crucial for effective treatment interventions in biosensing. These materials overcome challenges like poor drug bioavailability and the blood-brain barrier, allowing targeted delivery of neuroprotective agents in drug delivery, potentially slowing NDD progression. In tissue engineering, nanomaterials create nanocarriers, ensuring precise delivery to specific nervous system regions. Their small size and biocompatibility enhance tissue penetration and interaction with cells, maximizing therapeutic efficacy in NDDs. In this chapter, we have reviewed the advancements in nanomaterial development for theranostics in NDDs. We anticipate future collaborations between nanotechnology and neuroscience to pioneer innovative strategies for diagnosing, treating, and monitoring other neuronal diseases.