Fig. 9

Lipid-based nanoparticles for treating neurodisorders are illustrated A liposomes, B solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN); Polymeric nanoparticles, C polymeric miscelles, D dendrimers and E illustrating the major properties of nanoparticles that influence systemic delivery and transport through BBB. NPs have the ability to deliver drugs into cells by covalently bounding, entrapping or adsorbing them. They can be of different shapes (rod-like, spherical, or cube) and charges (positive, zwitterionic, or negative). NPs can be natural such as proteins (albumin), chitosan or synthetic NPs which are made from commonly used polymers like poly (lactic acid) (PLA), poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), or from inorganic agents like gold, silica, or alumina. Also, these NPs can be functionalized using different types of ligands. (i) efficient in mediating protein adsorption [Polysorbate-80 (P-80)], (ii) direct interaction with BBB (transferrin proteins, peptides or antibodies), (iii) increasing hydrophobicity (amphiphilic peptides), and (iv) ability to increase blood circulation (PEG). The figure is adapted from [235]