Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery in Brain Disorders

Abstract

The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a characteristic component of the central nervous system, effectively shields the brain from numerous blood-borne viruses and pathogens. The discovery of novel drugs for brain cancer and neurodegenerative diseases is hampered by this barrier, which also restricts treatment efficacy. The BBB’s extremely selective nature prevents all large-molecule therapies and over 98% of all small-molecule medicines from reaching the brain. Considering the lack of efficient formulations to treat brain-related disorders, nanotechnology offers various innovative design possibilities for novel therapeutics employing cutting-edge nanostructures for medication delivery. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) are one of the authentic nanocarriers for targeted drug release because of their easy functionalization, high surface area, biocompatibility, and structurally tunable properties that are possible with a low-cost synthesis process. They also stand out among the available nanosystems because they are non-hazardous to biological tissues. This chapter aims to provide an overview of MSN fabrication and the most recent developments regarding MSNs’ prospective use as brain-targeted drug delivery systems and evaluate their capabilities and benefits in overcoming these intriguing biological hurdles. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Anurag Kumar Singh, Vivek K. Chaturvedi, and Jay Singh; individual chapters, the contributors.