Abstract
Brain tumor is considered to be the most detrimental disease found in
humans. Amongst the various brain tumors, glioblastoma has emerged as a highly
invasive malignant disease that has contributed to significant mortality worldwide.
Despite surgical and drug innovations, most of the patients suffering from brain
tumours have shown poor prognosis, with a median life span. The presence of the
blood-brain barrier (BBB) acts as a protective layer outside the brain for most of the
conventional, diagnostic and therapeutic agents, which in turn leads to poor diagnosis
and less efficacy in most clinical subjects. In recent years, multifunctional
nanotechnology systems have been employed to deliver theranostic agents to the brain,
showing promising outcomes in the treatment of various forms of cancer. The present
chapter provides comprehensive information on the most recent developments in BBB-crossing nanotechnology, with a slight focus on the thoughtful design of
multifunctional nanoplatforms for effective BBB penetration, accurate tumor imaging,
and substantial brain tumor inhibition. Besides, various physiological barriers and
transportation mechanisms, different drug delivery systems for brain tumors are also
highlighted. Furthermore, major advancements in brain tumor theranostics pertaining to
employing different nanosystems such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, bio-nano
particles, and inorganic-nanoparticles for effective nano-drug delivery for theranostics
in brain tumors have also been discussed.
Keywords: Blood-brain barrier, Brain tumour, Nanotechnology, Stimuli-responsive, Theranostic