Advanced Nanocarriers to Navigate the Blood-brain Barrier: A New Frontier in CNS Drug Delivery

Abstract

The central nervous system (CNS) is shielded from threats by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a selective physiological gatekeeper. It does, however, also provide a serious obstacle to the delivery of therapeutic medicines to the brain, making it difficult to treat neurological conditions such as glioblastoma, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's. With their focused distribution, regulated release, targeted delivery, and improved BBB penetration, nanocarrier-based methods act as a reassuring alternative. This chapter examines drug delivery obstacles, the anatomy of the blood-brain barrier, and the function of advanced nanocarriers, including exosomes, liposomes, dendrimers, and polymeric and lipid nanoparticles. Additionally, it addresses recent developments in receptor-mediated targeting, surface modifications, stimuli-responsive administration, and regulatory issues, as well as future objectives in brain-targeted nanomedicine.