Nanomaterials for Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Cancer: Recent Updates

Abstract

Brain tumors, especially glioblastoma, remain the most aggressive form of all the cancers because of inefficient diagnosis and profiling. Nanostructures, such as metallic nanostructures, silica nano-vehicles, quantum dots, lipid nanoparticles (NPs) and polymeric NPs, with high specificity have made it possible to permeate the blood–brain barrier (BBB). NPs possess optical, magnetic and photodynamic properties that can be exploited by surface modification, bio composition, contrast agents’ encapsulation and coating by tumor-derived cells. Hence, nanotechnology has brought on a revolution in the field of diagnosis and imaging of brain tumors and cancers. Recently, nanomaterials with biomimetic functions have been introduced to efficiently cross the BBB to be engulfed by deep skin tumors and cancer malignancies for imaging. The review focuses on nanotechnology-based diagnostic and imaging approaches for exploration in brain tumors and cancers. Moreover, the review also summarizes a few strategies to image glioblastoma and cancers by multimodal functional nanocomposites for more precise and accurate clinical diagnosis. Their unique physicochemical attributes, including nanoscale sizes, larger surface area, explicit structural features and ability to encapsulate diverse molecules on their surface, render nanostructured materials as excellent nano-vehicles to cross the blood–brain barrier and convey drug molecules to their target region. This review sheds light on the current progress of various kinds of nanomaterials, such as liposomes, nano-micelles, dendrimers, carbon nanotubes, carbon dots and NPs (gold, silver and zinc oxide NPs), for efficient drug delivery in the treatment and diagnosis of brain cancer.

Plant-Based Gums and Mucilages Applications in Pharmacology and Nanomedicine: A Review

“…Currently, in pharmaceutical formulations, diverse mucilages have been employed as a binding factor and a drug excipient. Mucilage has good bonding activities compared to numerous synthetic materials [ 22 , 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 ]. In general, the use of mucilages in drug formulations includes their usage in the production of tablets [ 105 , 106 ], as an emulsifying and suspending agent [ 22 , 107 , 108 ], as a bioadhesive agent [ 109 ], as well as gelling and thickening agents [ 110 , 111 ].…”

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Diagnosis and Treatments of Human Osteosarcoma

“…The enhanced surface area and high stability of nanosystems are responsible for improving the bioavailability and drug release profile. Moreover, the hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs can be incorporated at the same time for the treatment and diagnosis [ 94 ]. Nanoparticulate drug systems mainly include polymeric NPs, dendrimers, micelles, liposomes, carbon-based nanovehicles, and metallic NPs.…”

Nanomaterials for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

“…Nanomaterials can exert their innate antimicrobial action, and synthesizing NPs while conjugating them to antimicrobials may lead to synergistic antibacterial actions, with cost-effectiveness and higher stability for a longer period [ 37 ]. Antimicrobial NPs for UTIs are mostly based on metals (gold - Au, silver - Ag, titanium NPs) and on metal-based oxides (zinc oxide-ZnO-NPs) [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. All metal and metal-based oxide NP damage the pathogenic microorganisms by various mechanisms of photothermolysis, generating reacting oxygen species (ROS), damaging the cell wall and cell components of pathogens, and interfering with normal enzymatic activities and DNA synthesis [ 45 ].…”