Nanotheranostics, a future remedy of neurological disorders

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Effective therapy of various neurological disorders is hindered on account of the failure of various therapeutics crossing blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Nanotheranostics has emerged as a cutting-edge unconventional theranostic nanomedicine, capable of realizing accurate diagnosis together with effective and targeted delivery of therapeutics across BBB to the unhealthy regions of the brain for potential clinical success.

Areas covered: We have tried to review the current status of nanotheranostic based approaches followed to manage neurological disorders. The focus has been majorly laid on to explore various theranostic nanoparticles and their application potential towards image-guided neurotherapies. Additionally, the usefulness of exceptional diagnostic, imaging techniques including magnetic resonance imaging and fluorescence imaging are being discussed by highlighting their promising opportunities in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of the neurological disorders.

Expert opinion: Inimitable diagnostic and therapeutic potential of nanotheranostics have accomplished the aim of personalized therapies by governing the therapeutic efficacy of the system along with facilitating patient pre-selection grounded on non-invasive imaging, thereby predicting the responses of patients to nanomedicine treatments. While these accomplishments are encouraging, they are still the minority and demands for a continuous effort to improve sensitivity and precision in screening/diagnosis along with improving therapeutic efficacy in various neural disorders.

KEYWORDS:

• BBB
• contrast agent
• image-guided therapy
• nanotheranostics
• nanoparticles
• neurological disorders
• targeted drug delivery

Article highlights

• Nanotheranostics, defined as a multifunctional nanosystem with dual capability of working as both diagnostics and therapeutic modality has gained significant interest in the recent past.

• The article highlights the role of different nanocarrier systems as theranostic agents for neurological disorders.

• Exemplifies various types of nanoparticle systems explored in the arena of neurological ailments.

• Summarizes the research undertaken in the field of nanotheranostics for achieving diagnosis and therapy of neurological disorders in the last decade or so.

• Current challenges and future perspectives for advanced nanotheranostic systems for neurological ailments diagnosis and treatment are also being discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Institute of Nano Science and Technology, an autonomous institute supported by Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, for all the essential facilities to complete this work.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.