Noninvasive nanoparticle strategies for brain tumor targeting

Chunmeng Sun; Yang Ding; Li Zhou; Di Shi; Linlin Sun; Thomas J Webster; Yan Shen

doi:10.1016/j.nano.2017.07.009

Noninvasive nanoparticle strategies for brain tumor targeting

Nanomedicine. 2017 Nov;13(8):2605-2621. doi: 10.1016/j.nano.2017.07.009. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

Authors

Chunmeng Sun¹, Yang Ding², Li Zhou³, Di Shi⁴, Linlin Sun⁴, Thomas J Webster⁵, Yan Shen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Center for Research Development and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Generic Drugs, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; State Key Laboratory of Nature Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
² Center for Research Development and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Generic Drugs, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
³ Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, Los Angeles, CA.
⁴ Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: th.webster@neu.edu.
⁶ Center for Research Development and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Excipients and Generic Drugs, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; State Key Laboratory of Nature Medicines, Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: shenyan@cpu.edu.cn.

PMID: 28756093
DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2017.07.009

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) maintains the integrity and homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS) yet represents an intimidating hurdle for efficient drug delivery to brain tumors. This up-to-date review summarizes strategies that have been employed to cross the BBB with a focus on non-invasive nanoparticles that could pass the BBB after systemic administration. Recent advances in liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, micelles, and inorganic nanoparticles are scrutinized mechanistically with an emphasis on design principles. As highlighted in this review, effective drug delivery to brain tumors may be achieved by rationally engineering nanoparticles to possess appropriate sizes, surface properties, and ligands.

Keywords: Blood–brain barrier; Brain penetration; Brain tumors; Drug delivery; Nanoparticles.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
Blood-Brain Barrier / drug effects
Blood-Brain Barrier / metabolism
Brain / drug effects
Brain / metabolism*
Brain Neoplasms / drug therapy*
Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
Drug Carriers / chemistry
Drug Carriers / metabolism*
Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
Humans
Nanoparticles / chemistry
Nanoparticles / metabolism*

Substances

Antineoplastic Agents
Drug Carriers