Introduction to Nanoparticles as a Potential Carrier for Brain Targeting

Neurological disorders are among the most prevalent and notoriously difficult-to-treat diseases. The intricacies of the brain architecture present numerous obstacles to the effective delivery of drugs (DD). The pivotal role of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in targeting drugs to the brain cannot be overemphasized. Researchers have been captivated by the development of nanoparticle-based brain targeting in recent years, focusing on the design of nanoparticles (NPs) for drug delivery (DD). Efficient drug delivery is achieved through the utilization of NPs due to their advantageous attributes, including diminutive size, solubility, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and ease of modifications. Given the benefits of NPs, researchers have employed various forms of NPs to bypass the BBB. The most straightforward targeted drug delivery system (DDS) to the brain is the nose-to-brain pathway. Nose-to-brain delivery presents numerous benefits compared to traditional DDS, despite facing significant obstacles. It boasts rapidity, patient-friendliness, and noninvasiveness; bypasses first-pass metabolism; and provides swift action. The major hindrances to utilizing NPs for DD purposes are the instability of nanocarriers and the lack of controlled drug release. The engineering of nanocarriers holds the potential to address challenges and advance the development of multi-targeted and multifunctional delivery mechanisms. Implementing advanced microfluidic and micropatterning co-culture methods may enhance our understanding of nanocarrier interactions in real-life scenarios, particularly when interacting with the BBB.