Our brains are undisputedly regarded as one of the most complex biological
structures, therefore it is not surprising that there are challenges associated with the
transportation of therapeutic agents across this organ. This may be attributed in large
part to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which maintains a very stable environment in
order to sustain normal brain function. The blood-brain barrier is comprised of a highly
selective semipermeable border of epithelial cells that shield the brain from unwelcome
and invasive substances. It is so effective, however, that it impedes the transportation
of drug delivery used to treat various neurological and cerebrovascular disorders, such
as Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), stroke, and gliomas (tumors
in the brain and spinal cord). Consequently, many central nervous system disorders are
undertreated. Significant advances in nanotechnology have increased the feasibility for
biomedical applications to the brain, as nanopharmaceuticals may be tailored with
functional modalities that assist to target selective brain tissue.
Keywords: Blood-brain barrier, Nanomedicine, Nanotherapeutics, Neurological
disorders, Neurovascular, Targeted drug delivery.
