NANOCARRIERS FOR BRAIN TUMOR TREATMENT:RECENT ADVANCES, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Authors

  • Pranav Sharma Lecturer, RIMS Split Campus, Motherhood University, Roorkee, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India Author
  • Akshat Kashyap* Assistant Professor, RIMS Split Campus, Motherhood University, Roorkee, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India Author
  • Sunil Kumar Lecturer, RIMS Split Campus, Motherhood University, Roorkee, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India Author
  • Vipul Gupta Lecturer, RIMS Split Campus, Motherhood University, Roorkee, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India Author
  • Nivedita Adhikari Assistant Professor, RIMS Split Campus, Motherhood University, Roorkee, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India Author

Keywords:

Brain tumors, standard treatment methods

Abstract

Brain tumors are considered among the most challenging neurological diseases to treat due to their highly aggressive behavior, fast growth, and poor response to standard treatment methods. Traditional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are widely used; however, their overall success is often limited because many drugs cannot effectively reach the brain tissue and may also produce serious side effects throughout the body. A major obstacle in brain tumor treatment is the Blood–Brain Barrier (BBB), a protective and highly selective membrane that prevents most therapeutic agents from entering the central nervous system. To overcome these limitations, researchers are focusing on advanced drug delivery systems that can improve targeted delivery of drugs directly to brain tumors while reducing unwanted side effects.

References

1. World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Central Nervous System Tumours

2. Louis DN, Perry A, Wesseling P, Brat DJ, Cree IA, Figarella-Branger D, et al. The 2021 WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system: a summary. Neuro Oncol. 2021;23(8):1231–1251.

3. Ostrom QT, Patil N, Cioffi G, Waite K, Kruchko C, Barnholtz-Sloan JS. CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and other central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States. Neuro Oncol. 2020;22(Suppl 2): iv1–iv96.

4. National Cancer Institute

5. Tan AC, Ashley DM, López GY, Malinzak M, Friedman HS, Khasraw M. Management of glioblastoma: state of the art and future directions. CA Cancer J Clin. 2020;70(4):299–312.

6. Alexander BM, Cloughesy TF. Adult glioblastoma. J Clin Oncol. 2017;35(21):2402–2409.

7. Wen PY, Kesari S. Malignant gliomas in adults. N Engl J Med. 2008;359(5):492–507.

8. Jain KK. A critical overview of targeted therapies for glioblastoma. Front Oncol. 2018; 8:419.

9. Abbott NJ, Patabendige AA, Dolman DE, Yusof SR, Begley DJ. Structure and function of the blood–brain barrier. Neurobiol Dis. 2010;37(1):13–25.

10. Saraiva C, Praça C, Ferreira R, Santos T, Ferreira L, Bernardino L. Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: overcoming blood–brain barrier to treat neurodegenerative diseases. J Control Release. 2016; 235:34–47.

11. Teleanu DM, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu RI. Blood-brain delivery methods using nanotechnology.Pharmaceutics. 2018;10(4):269.

12. Patel MM, Patel BM. Crossing the blood–brain barrier: recent advances in drug delivery to the brain. CNS Drugs. 2017;31(2):109–133.

13. Pardridge WM. Drug transport across the blood–brain barrier. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2012;32(11):1959–1972.

14. Blanco E, Shen H, Ferrari M. Principles of nanoparticle design for overcoming biological barriers to drug delivery. Nat Biotechnol. 2015;33(9):941–951.

15. Arvanitis CD, Ferraro GB, Jain RK. The blood–brain barrier and blood–tumor barrier in brain tumors and metastases. Nat Rev Cancer. 2020;20(1):26–41.

16. Teleanu RI, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu DM. Tumor microenvironment in glioblastoma: current therapeutic challenges. J Clin Med. 2020;9(7):2189.

17. Blanco E, Shen H, Ferrari M. Principles of nanoparticle design for overcoming biological barriers to drug delivery. Nat Biotechnol. 2015;33(9):941–951.

18. Saraiva C, Praça C, Ferreira R, Santos T, Ferreira L, Bernardino L. Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: overcoming the blood–brain barrier. J Control Release. 2016; 235:34–47.

19. Teleanu DM, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu RI. Nanomaterials for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Nanomaterials. 2019;9(3):371.

20. Patel T, Zhou J, Piepmeier JM, Saltzman WM. Polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2012;64(7):701–705.

21. Cheng Y, Morshed RA, Auffinger B, Tobias AL, Lesniak MS. Multifunctional nanoparticles for brain tumor imaging and therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2014; 66:42–57.

22. Zhang TT, Li W, Meng G, Wang P, Liao W. Strategies for transporting nanoparticles across the blood–brain barrier. Biomater Sci. 2016;4(2):219–229.

23. Wicki A, Witzigmann D, Balasubramanian V, Huwyler J. Nanomedicine in cancer therapy: challenges and opportunities. J Control Release. 2015; 200:138–157.

24. Kesharwani P, Gorain B, Low SY, Tan SA, Ling ECS, Lim SY. Nanotechnology-based approaches for anti-brain cancer drug delivery. Molecules. 2018;23(6):1362.

25. Saraiva C, Praça C, Ferreira R, Santos T, Ferreira L, Bernardino L. Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: overcoming the blood–brain barrier. J Control Release. 2016;235:34–47.

26. Blanco E, Shen H, Ferrari M. Principles of nanoparticle design for overcoming biological barriers to drug delivery. Nat Biotechnol. 2015;33(9):941–951.

27. Teleanu DM, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu RI. Nanomaterials for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Nanomaterials. 2019;9(3):371.

28. Patel T, Zhou J, Piepmeier JM, Saltzman WM. Polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2012;64(7):701–705.

29. Kesharwani P, Gorain B, Low SY, Tan SA, Ling ECS, Lim SY. Nanotechnology-based approaches for anti-brain cancer drug delivery. Molecules. 2018;23(6):1362.

30. Cheng Y, Morshed RA, Auffinger B, Tobias AL, Lesniak MS. Multifunctional nanoparticles for brain tumor imaging and therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2014; 66:42–57.

31. Wicki A, Witzigmann D, Balasubramanian V, Huwyler J. Nanomedicine in cancer therapy: challenges and opportunities. J Control Release. 2015; 200:138–157.

32. Bobo D, Robinson KJ, Islam J, Thurecht KJ, Corrie SR. Nanoparticle-based medicines: a review of FDA-approved materials and clinical trials to date. Pharm Res. 2016;33(10):2373–2387.

33. Blanco E, Shen H, Ferrari M. Principles of nanoparticle design for overcoming biological barriers to drug delivery. Nat Biotechnol. 2015;33(9):941–951.

34. Saraiva C, Praça C, Ferreira R, Santos T, Ferreira L, Bernardino L. Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: overcoming the blood–brain barrier. J Control Release. 2016;235:34–47.

35. Teleanu DM, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu RI. Nanomaterials for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Nanomaterials. 2019;9(3):371.

36. Arvanitis CD, Ferraro GB, Jain RK. The blood–brain barrier and blood–tumor barrier in brain tumors and metastases. Nat Rev Cancer. 2020;20(1):26–41.

37. Kesharwani P, Gorain B, Low SY, Tan SA, Ling ECS, Lim SY. Nanotechnology-based approaches for anti-brain cancer drug delivery. Molecules. 2018;23(6):1362.

38. Cheng Y, Morshed RA, Auffinger B, Tobias AL, Lesniak MS. Multifunctional nanoparticles for brain tumor imaging and therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2014;66:42–57.

39. Zhang TT, Li W, Meng G, Wang P, Liao W. Strategies for transporting nanoparticles across the blood–brain barrier. Biomater Sci. 2016;4(2):219–229.

40. Patel MM, Patel BM. Crossing the blood–brain barrier: recent advances in drug delivery to the brain. CNS Drugs. 2017;31(2):109–133.

41. Tan AC, Ashley DM, López GY, Malinzak M, Friedman HS, Khasraw M. Management of glioblastoma: state of the art and future directions. CA Cancer J Clin. 2020;70(4):299–312.

42. Saraiva C, Praça C, Ferreira R, Santos T, Ferreira L, Bernardino L. Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: overcoming the blood–brain barrier. J Control Release. 2016; 235:34–47.

43. Kesharwani P, Gorain B, Low SY, Tan SA, Ling ECS, Lim SY. Nanotechnology-based approaches for anti-brain cancer drug delivery. Molecules. 2018;23(6):1362.

44. Cheng Y, Morshed RA, Auffinger B, Tobias AL, Lesniak MS. Multifunctional nanoparticles for brain tumor imaging and therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2014; 66:42–57.

45. Teleanu DM, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu RI. Nanomaterials for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Nanomaterials. 2019;9(3):371.

46. Patel T, Zhou J, Piepmeier JM, Saltzman WM. Polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2012;64(7):701–705.

47. Bobo D, Robinson KJ, Islam J, Thurecht KJ, Corrie SR. Nanoparticle-based medicines: a review of FDA-approved materials and clinical trials to date. Pharm Res. 2016;33(10):2373–2387.

48. Wicki A, Witzigmann D, Balasubramanian V, Huwyler J. Nanomedicine in cancer therapy: challenges and opportunities. J Control Release. 2015;200:138–157.

49. Saraiva C, Praça C, Ferreira R, Santos T, Ferreira L, Bernardino L. Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: overcoming the blood–brain barrier. J Control Release. 2016;235:34–47.

50. Patel MM, Patel BM. Crossing the blood–brain barrier: recent advances in drug delivery to the brain. CNS Drugs. 2017;31(2):109–133.

51. Teleanu DM, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu RI. Nanomaterials for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Nanomaterials. 2019;9(3):371.

52. Illum L. Nasal drug delivery—possibilities, problems and solutions. J Control Release. 2003;87(1-3):187–198.

53. Djupesland PG. Nasal drug delivery devices: characteristics and performance in a clinical perspective. Drug Deliv Transl Res. 2013;3(1):42–62.

54. Bobo D, Robinson KJ, Islam J, Thurecht KJ, Corrie SR. Nanoparticle-based medicines: a review of FDA-approved materials and clinical trials to date. Pharm Res. 2016;33(10):2373–2387.

55. Cheng Y, Morshed RA, Auffinger B, Tobias AL, Lesniak MS. Multifunctional nanoparticles for brain tumor imaging and therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2014; 66:42–57.

56. Saucier-Sawyer JK, Deng Y, Seo YE, Cheng CJ, Zhang J, Quijano E, et al. Systemic delivery of blood–brain barrier-targeted polymeric nanoparticles enhance delivery to brain tissue. J Drug Target. 2015;23(7-8):736–749.

57. Bobo D, Robinson KJ, Islam J, Thurecht KJ, Corrie SR. Nanoparticle-based medicines: a review of FDA-approved materials and clinical trials to date. Pharm Res. 2016;33(10):2373–2387.

58. Cheng Y, Morshed RA, Auffinger B, Tobias AL, Lesniak MS. Multifunctional nanoparticles for brain tumor imaging and therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2014; 66:42–57.

59. Saraiva C, Praça C, Ferreira R, Santos T, Ferreira L, Bernardino L. Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: overcoming the blood–brain barrier. J Control Release. 2016; 235:34–47.

60. Wicki A, Witzigmann D, Balasubramanian V, Huwyler J. Nanomedicine in cancer therapy: challenges and opportunities. J Control Release. 2015;200:138–157.

61. Teleanu DM, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu RI. Nanomaterials for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Nanomaterials. 2019;9(3):371.

62. Kesharwani P, Gorain B, Low SY, Tan SA, Ling ECS, Lim SY. Nanotechnology-based approaches for anti-brain cancer drug delivery. Molecules. 2018;23(6):1362.

63. He H, Wu Y, Nie G. Advances of artificial intelligence in anti-cancer nanomedicine research. Front Oncol. 2022; 12:927464.

64. Patel T, Zhou J, Piepmeier JM, Saltzman WM. Polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2012;64(7):701–705.

65. Teleanu DM, Chircov C, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu RI. Nanomaterials for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Nanomaterials. 2019;9(3):371.

66. Saraiva C, Praça C, Ferreira R, Santos T, Ferreira L, Bernardino L. Nanoparticle-mediated brain drug delivery: overcoming the blood–brain barrier. J Control Release. 2016; 235:34–47.

67. Wicki A, Witzigmann D, Balasubramanian V, Huwyler J. Nanomedicine in cancer therapy: challenges and opportunities. J Control Release. 2015; 200:138–157.

68. Blanco E, Shen H, Ferrari M. Principles of nanoparticle design for overcoming biological barriers to drug delivery. Nat Biotechnol. 2015;33(9):941–951.

69. Patel T, Zhou J, Piepmeier JM, Saltzman WM. Polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery to the central nervous system. Adv Drug Deliv Rev. 2012;64(7):701–705.

70. Fadeel B, Farcal L, Hardy B, Vazquez-Campos S, Hristozov D, Marcomini A, et al. Advanced tools for the safety assessment of nanomaterials. Nat Nanotechnol. 2018;13(7):537–543.

71. Oberdörster G, Stone V, Donaldson K. Toxicology of nanoparticles: a historical perspective. Nanotoxicology. 2007;1(1):2–25.

72. Bobo D, Robinson KJ, Islam J, Thurecht KJ, Corrie SR. Nanoparticle-based medicines: a review of FDA-approved materials and clinical trials to date. Pharm Res. 2016;33(10):2373–2387.

Downloads

Published

2026-04-01

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2026): IJPRBA

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.ijprba.com

"The content of IJPRBA journal and the published Manuscripts are copy right protected. Commercial usage of the same is prohibited.
Click here for obtaining Permission for commercial use"

How to Cite

NANOCARRIERS FOR BRAIN TUMOR TREATMENT:RECENT ADVANCES, CHALLENGES AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES. (2026). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS, 15(2), 1-12. https://ijprba.ijpbcs.com/index.php/ijprba/article/view/42

Similar Articles

1-10 of 15

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.