NOVEL NANO PARTICLES APPROACHES IN TRAGETED THERAPY OF BRAIN CANCER

Karim Basha Shaik

Shaik. Karim Basha Priyadarshini Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, 5th Mile, Pulladigunta, Guntur-522017, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Abstract

Brain cancer, particularly glioblastoma, remains one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat malignancies due to the restrictive nature of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and blood–brain–tumour barrier (BBTB). The reviewed articles collectively highlight the transformative role of nanotechnology in improving the diagnosis, imaging, and treatment of brain tumours. Nanoparticles (NPs), including lipid-based, polymeric, metallic, carbon-based, virus-based, and biomimetic nanomaterials, demonstrate enhanced permeability, targeted delivery, and multifunctional capabilities. Their nanoscale size, high surface area, and modifiable surfaces enable efficient BBB penetration, tumour-specific targeting, drug encapsulation, and controlled release. In addition to therapeutic applications, nanostructures offer optical, magnetic, and photodynamic properties that significantly enhance imaging precision and multimodal diagnostics. While nanotechnology presents substantial clinical promise, concerns regarding neurotoxicity and long-term. safety necessitate standardized toxicological evaluation. Current research emphasizes improving specificity, minimizing adverse effects, and developing biocompatible and cell membrane-coated systems for safer clinical translation. Overall, nanotechnology-based platforms represent a rapidly advancing strategy that integrates targeted therapy and advanced imaging, offering improved efficacy and potential breakthroughs in brain cancer management while underscoring the importance of safety optimization.

Keywords: Brain cancer, Glioblastoma, Nanoparticles, Blood–brain barrier, Drug delivery, Nanotechnology, Tumour targeting, Nanomedicine, Neurotoxicity, Diagnostic imaging

References

1. Zhang J. Secrets of the brain: an introduction to the brain anatomical structure and biological function. arXiv. 2019 May 31;arXiv:1906.03314. doi:10.48550/arXiv.1906.03314.
2. de Robles P, Fiest KM, Frolkis AD, Pringsheim T, Atta C, St. Germaine-Smith C, et al. The worldwide incidence and prevalence of primary brain tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuro Oncol. 2015;17(6):776–83. doi:10.1093/neuonc/nou283.
3. Martins JP, das Neves J, de la Fuente M, Celia C, Florindo H, Günday-Türeli N, et al. The solid progress of nanomedicine. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2020;10(3):726–9.
4. Davarpanah AM, Rahdar A, Dastnae MA, Zeybek O, Beyzaei H. (1−x)BaFe12O19/xCoFe2O4 hard/soft magnetic nanocomposites: synthesis, physical characterization, and antibacterial activities study. J Mol Struct. 2019;1175:445–59. doi:10.1016/j.molstruc.2018.07.092.
5. Saleh TA, Gupta VK. Synthesis, classification, and properties of nanomaterials. In: Saleh TA, Gupta VK, editors. Nanomaterial and Polymer Membranes. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2016. p. 83–133.
6. Sudha PN, Sangeetha K, Vijayalakshmi K, Barhoum A. Nanomaterials history, classification, unique properties, production and market. In: Barhoum A, Makhlouf ASH, editors. Emerging Applications of Nanoparticles and Architecture Nanostructures. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 2018. p. 341–84. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-51254-1.00012-9.
7. McNamara K, Tofail SAM. Nanoparticles in biomedical applications. Adv Phys X. 2017;2(1):54–88. doi:10.1080/23746149.2016.1254570.
8. Hadjipanayis CG, Machaidze R, Kaluzova M, Wang L, Schuette AJ, Chen H, et al. EGFRvIII antibody-conjugated iron oxide nanoparticles for magnetic resonance imaging-guided convection-enhanced delivery and targeted therapy of glioblastoma. Cancer Res. 2010;70(15):6303–12. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-10-1022.
9. Chertok B, Moffat BA, David AE, Yu F, Bergemann C, Ross BD, et al. Iron oxide nanoparticles as a drug delivery vehicle for MRI monitored magnetic targeting of brain tumors. Biomaterials. 2008;29(4):487–96. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2007.08.050.
10. Zhou Y, Peng Z, Seven ES, Leblanc RM. Crossing the blood-brain barrier with nanoparticles. J Control Release. 2018;270:290–303. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.12.015.
11. Richard S, Boucher M, Lalatonne Y, Mériaux S, Motte L. Iron oxide nanoparticle surface decorated with cRGD peptides for magnetic resonance imaging of brain tumors. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj. 2017;1861(6):1515–20. doi:10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.12.020.
12. Solanki I, Parihar P, Parihar MS. Neurodegenerative diseases: from available treatments to prospective herbal therapy. Neurochem Int. 2016;95:100–8. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2015.11.001.
13. Zhou Z, Lu J, Liu WW, Manaenko A, Hou X, Mei Q, et al. Advances in stroke pharmacology. Pharmacol Ther. 2018;191:23–42. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.05.012.
14. Sengul AB, Asmatulu E. Toxicity of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles: a review. Environ Chem Lett. 2020;18(5):1659–83.
15. Bozzuto G, Molinari A. Liposomes as nanomedical devices. Int J Nanomedicine. 2015;10:975–99. doi:10.2147/IJN.S68861.
16. Lakkadwala S, dos Santos Rodrigues B, Sun C, Singh J. Dual functionalized liposomes for efficient co-delivery of anti-cancer chemotherapeutics for the treatment of glioblastoma. J Control Release. 2019;307:247–60. doi:10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.06.033.
17. Agrawal P, Singh RP, Sharma G, Mehata AK, Singh S, Rajesh CV, et al. Bioadhesive micelles of d-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate 1000: synergism of chitosan and transferrin in targeted drug delivery. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2017;152:277–88. doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2017.01.021.
18. Ambekar RS, Choudhary M, Kandasubramanian B. Recent advances in dendrimer-based nanoplatform for cancer treatment: a review. Eur Polym J. 2020;126:109546. doi:10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2020.109546.
19. Mahajan S, Patharkar A, Kuche K, Maheshwari R, Deb PK, Kalia K, et al. Functionalized carbon nanotubes as emerging delivery system for the treatment of cancer. Int J Pharm. 2018;548(1):540–58. doi:10.1016/j.ijpharm.2018.07.027.
20. Dilnawaz F, Singh A, Mewar S, Sharma U, Jagannathan NR, Sahoo SK. The transport of non-surfactant-based paclitaxel loaded magnetic nanoparticles across the blood-brain barrier in a rat model. Biomaterials. 2012;33(10):2936–51. doi:10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.12.046.
21. Reddy GR, Bhojani MS, McConville P, Moody J, Moffat BA, Hall DE, et al. Vascular targeted nanoparticles for imaging and treatment of brain tumors. Clin Cancer Res. 2006;12(22):6677–86. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-06-0946.
22. Meyers JD, Doane T, Burda C, Basilion JP. Nanoparticles for imaging and treating brain cancer. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2013;8(1):123–43. doi:10.2217/nnm.12.185.