European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Cancer is a group of diseases characterised by uncontrollable, abnormal cell growth. Research scientists
have had a difficult time dealing with cancerous brain tumours. Furthermore, the lack of early-stage
symptoms delays its diagnosis, resulting in a worsening of the condition. Surgical, radiation, and
chemotherapy treatments still have a number of drawbacks. It is difficult for most anticancer drugs to
cross the blood–brain barrier, because of their low solubility and limited therapeutic window. Solid
tumours can be targeted with nanoparticles that take advantage of the enhanced permeability and retention
effect. Using surface membrane proteins that are over expressed in cancer cells as targets for active
targeting, which involves altering the nanoparticles' surfaces, it is possible to reduce uptake in healthy
tissue while increasing accumulation in tumours. Antibodies, their fragments, aptamers, oligopeptides, or
small molecules are commonly used as target molecules. Several FDA-approved nanomedicines are
currently available, but none of them has been approved for the treatment of brain tumours. The surface
modified nanoparticles will lead to enhanced delivery of the drug to the brain by prevention of the
clearance by reticuloendothelial system and probable inhibition of the efflux mechanism of brain and
ultimately enhance drug concentration towards target site. This targeted drug delivery will lead to
reduction in dose and also will reduce drug related toxicity towards normal cells