Nanotechnology for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Progress in Brain-Targeted Delivery, Stimuli-Responsive Platforms, and Organelle-Specific Therapeutics
Lei Gao, J Wang, Yanhua Bi
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases-including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-are characterized by progressive neuronal loss and complex pathological mechanisms such as protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Conventional therapies offer limited efficacy due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and lack of targeted delivery. Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative strategy for precise brain-targeted treatment. This review summarizes recent advances in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, inorganic nanomaterials, and biomimetic carriers, highlighting their design features, BBB-penetration mechanisms, and disease-specific applications. Emphasis is placed on stimuli-responsive nanocarriers that react to pH, reactive oxygen species, or enzyme activity, enabling site-specific drug release. Additionally, organelle-targeting strategies-particularly those directed at mitochondria and lysosomes-are explored for their role in subcellular precision therapy. The integration of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities in theranostic nanoplatforms is also discussed. By consolidating preclinical progress and emerging technologies, this review offers insights into the future of nanomedicine in treating neurodegenerative diseases and lays the groundwork for clinical translation.