Chapter 2 - Nanomedicine: future therapy for brain cancers

Abstract

Brain cancer is considered to be one of the most-deadly and life-threatening diseases among all cancers. It is one of the most prevalent causes of mortality throughout the world. The present and conventional treatment strategies are associated with several limitations such as the inability to cross the blood–brain barrier, problems in transferring drugs to brain tumors, the metastatic nature of gliomas, and drug resistance. Other limitations include not reaching the target point, the toxicity of chemotherapy, the nonspecific side effects of radiation therapy, and the high cost of treatment. As a consequence there is inadequate prognosis for brain cancers. Therefore to overcome the limitations of conventional treatment strategies there is a search for new technologies that can enhance the treatment procedures as well as curb the disease. To this end, nanotechnology with its variety of features is making its way into the field of biomedical applications, including in diagnostics and therapeutics. Hence with the advent of nanotechnology, scientists and researchers are taking large steps to widen the treatment and diagnosis options of brain cancers. Numerous reports demonstrate the use of nanoparticles for theranostic applications in brain cancers. In this chapter, the types of brain cancers, their pathophysiology, and market value are highlighted. Thereafter, the chapter includes a discussion about the involvement of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of brain cancers through various modes and methods. The trend of using nanoparticles for the overall upliftment of brain cancers has been explored in detail. Finally, the chapter is concluded by highlighting the potential usage of nanomedicine in the area of brain cancer research, its future perspectives, and challenges.