Alzheimer’s disease: review of current nanotechnological therapeutic strategies

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative pathology characterized by the presence of neuritic plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. The most important markers in AD pathology include excessive accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ₄₂) and phosphorylated tau (P-tau) proteins. One of the possible therapeutic strategies entails the elimination of such deposits by inhibiting Aβ aggregation. For years, one of the major problems in the treatment of AD has been the limited ability to deliver drugs to the brain for reasons related to poor solubility, low bioavailability, and the impact of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Areas covered: In recent years, the authors have observed an increasing scientific interest in nanotechnological solutions as the factors potentially capable of facilitating the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The authors discuss recent reports regarding the use of nanotechnology in the therapy and treatment of AD.

Expert opinion: The current advances in nanotechnology promise a chance to overcome the obstacles posed by said limitations. The size and diversity of nanoparticles in terms of both composition and shape create new possibilities for a variety of therapeutic applications, also in the context of the treatment and diagnostics of neurodegenerative diseases, for instance in combination with magnetic resonance imaging.

KEYWORDS:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• nanoparticles
• beta amyloid
• blood-brain barrier (BBB)
• nanotechnology

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.