Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems for solid brain tumors

The treatment of brain tumors including glioblastoma multiformes (GBMs) remains a challenge. The main option is still surgery to remove the bulk of the tumor and adjuvant treatments for the infiltrating parts. The blood brain barrier (BBB), however, restricts the access of chemotherapeutic agents to the tumor. The use of nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) has an increasing impact on disease diagnosis and therapy. By altering their size, composition, and surface chemistry, nanoparticles can be developed into a universal platform with multifunctional capabilities to meet the tunable requirements of different DDS. Thus, nanoparticles have the potential for targeted delivery of therapeutic cargo to brain tumors combined with simultaneous detection and imaging functions, providing a new strategy for effective therapy. The purpose of this article is to provide an updated review on the current progression and future possibilities of treating brain tumors with nanoparticles.