Nanoparticles and CNS Delivery of Therapeutic Agents in the Treatment of Primary Brain Tumors

Patients affected by malignant brain tumor present an extremely poor prognosis, notwithstanding improvements in surgery techniques and therapeutic protocols. Late diagnosis and the limitation of conventional therapies are major reasons for this unsolved clinical problem. The blood-brain barrier formed by a complex of endothelial cells, astrocyte and pericytes reduces notably the diffusion of a large number of therapeutic agents. Nanotechnology involves the design, synthesis, and characterization of materials and devices that have a functional organization in at least one dimension on the nanometer scale. The nanoparticles have emerged as potential vectors for brain delivery able to overcome the difficulties of modern strategies. Nanoparticles drug delivery systems can be, also, used to provide targeted delivery of drugs, improve bioavailability, sustains release of drugs for systemic delivery. Moreover, multi-functionality can be engineered into a single nanoplatform so that it can provide tumor-specific detection, treatment, and follow-up monitoring. In this study we will focus on the blood-brain barrier role and possibilities of its therapeutic overcoming. Recent studies of some kinds of nanoparticles systems in brain tumors treatment are summarized.