Going Nano for Neuro: Nanoparticle-Based Treatment of Central Nervous System Diseases

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders effect more than 1 billion people (~50% of these are children) globally and account for nearly 9 million deaths annually. Therefore, CNS disorders have received due attention in the past few decades, with a lot of research focused on formulating novel strategies to treat them. However, overcoming the blood–brain barrier (BBB) challenge has posed a major challenge in drug and therapeutic development efforts. Usage of nanoparticles to deliver drugs specifically to target cells across the BBB presents a way forward. In this chapter, we focus on various studies conducted in the last decade to address the BBB penetration conundrum by utilizing nanoplatforms, including solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanoemulsions, liposomes, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), and transfersomal nanoparticles, against brain tumor, epilepsy, meningitis, and multiple sclerosis. We hope that this chapter will encourage the scientific community to formulate novel nanoplatforms, as well as validate the current nanoparticle-based therapeutic systems, for treatment of various CNS diseases.