Potential of Nanocarrier-Associated Approaches for Better Therapeutic Intervention in the Management of Glioblastoma

Assay Drug Dev Technol. 2024 Feb-Mar;22(2):73-85. doi: 10.1089/adt.2023.073. Epub 2024 Jan 9.

Abstract

Glioblastoma, commonly known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is one of the deadliest and most invasive types of brain cancer. Two factors account for the majority of the treatment limitations for GBM. First, the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) renders malignancy treatment ineffective, leading to recurrence without full recovery. Second, several adverse effects are associated with the drugs used in conventional GBM treatment. Recent studies have developed nanocarrier systems, such as liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, nanosuspensions, nanoemulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanocarriers, metal particles, and silica nanoparticles, which allow drug-loaded formulations to penetrate the BBB more effectively. This has opened up new possibilities for overcoming therapy issues. Extensive and methodical searches of databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and others were conducted to gather relevant literature for this work, using precise keyword combinations such as "GBM," "brain tumor," and "nanocarriers." This review provides deep insights into the administration of drugs using nanocarriers for the management of GBM and explores new advancements in nanotechnology. It also highlights how scientific developments can be explained in connection with hopeful findings about the potential of nanocarriers for the future successful management of GBM.

Keywords: blood–brain barrier; brain tumor; glioblastoma; liposome; nanocarriers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood-Brain Barrier / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Brain Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Drug Carriers
  • Glioblastoma* / drug therapy
  • Glioblastoma* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lipids
  • Liposomes

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Liposomes
  • Lipids