Nano-Biomaterial-Assisted Targeted Therapy of Central Nervous System Disorders

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a major roadblock to the successful treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Owing to the enzymatic and structural complexity of the BBB, effective delivery of therapeutic moieties for CNS disorders becomes challenging. To overcome hurdles in CNS delivery, several non-invasive and invasive methods have been employed. However, the limited therapeutic effectiveness of the above-mentioned methods demands the exploration of alternative therapeutic interventions for the management of CNS ailments. Nano-biomaterials aroused as a propitious alternative for drug delivery to the brain region owing to their tunable size and spatio-temporal control over drug release. Moreover, they offer several advantages, such as the protection of encapsulated therapeutics from degradation, penetration promoting and targeting abilities over conventional treatment modalities. In this chapter, we have discussed the hurdles faced during CNS targeting. We have highlighted the importance of nano-biomaterials in CNS targeting over conventional treatment modalities. There is a brief discussion on the role of different types of nano-biomaterials in CNS disorders. Further, we have enlightened the potential regulatory bottlenecks faced during the clinical translation of nano-biomaterials with possible insights. We have discussed the future potential of nano-biomaterials in various biomedical applications comprising drug delivery, diagnosis, prognosis, and imaging purposes.