Safety and Nanotoxicity Aspects of Nanomedicines for Brain-Targeted Drug Delivery

Abstract

Nanotechnology for brain drug delivery comprises the promise for future possibilities of successful treatment in several central nervous system pathologies currently deficient in curative treatments, such as neurodegenerative disorders and malignant glioblastoma. Nevertheless, the neurotoxic effects exerted by several types of nanomaterials are the same as those involved in the pathology of neurodegeneration; thus it is important to have a deep knowledge of these mechanisms so that a proper approach can be taken into consideration. On the other hand, cancer cells usually respond differently to normal cells, being this characteristic a potential advantage for brain cancer therapy. In this chapter we analyze the mechanisms behind neurotoxic effects, from a multidisciplinary perspective, aiming to highlight the disadvantages of nanomaterials for the development of brain-targeted nanocarriers.