title: Diagnostic and therapeutic uses of nanomaterials in the brain.
abstract: Nanomedicine has recently emerged as an exciting tool able to improve the early diagnosis and treatment of a variety of intractable or age-related brain disorders. The most relevant properties of nanomaterials are that they can be engineered to cross the blood brain barrier, to target specific cells and molecules and to act as vehicles for drugs. Potentially beneficial properties of nanotherapeutics derived from its unique characteristics include improved efficacy, safety, sensitivity and personalization compared to conventional medicines. In this review, recent advances in available nanostructures and nanomaterials for brain applications will be described. Then, the latest applications of nanotechnology for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, in particular brain tumors and neurodegenerative diseases, will be reviewed. Recent investigations of the neurotoxicity of the nanomaterial both in vitro and in vivo will be summarized. Finally, the ongoing challenges that have to be meet if new nanomedical products are to be put on the market will be discussed and some future directions will be outlined.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Garbayo
authors.forename: Ander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Estella-Hermoso de Mendoza
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Navarra, C/Irunlarrea 1, 31080 Pamplona, Spain. mjblanco@unav.es.
authors.forename: Maria J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Blanco-Prieto
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015259:Dopamine Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D050997:Nanomedicine; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides; D015259:Dopamine Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D018697:Nootropic Agents