Advances in Brain Tumor Therapy Based on the Magnetic Nanoparticles

Abstract

Songbai Xu,1 Guangxin Zhang,2 Jiaomei Zhang,1 Wei Liu,2 Yicun Wang,2 Xiying Fu2 1Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Obstetrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Center, the First Hospital Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Endocrinology, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Yicun Wang; Xiying Fu, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Brain tumors, including primary gliomas and brain metastases, are one of the deadliest tumors because effective macromolecular antitumor drugs cannot easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-brain tumor barrier (BTB). Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are considered the most suitable nanocarriers for the delivery of brain tumor drugs because of their unique properties compared to other nanoparticles. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the potential of these nanoparticles in magnetic targeting, nuclear magnetic resonance, magnetic thermal therapy, and ultrasonic hyperthermia. To further develop and optimize MNPs for the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors, we attempt to outline recent advances in the use of MNPs to deliver drugs, with a particular focus on their efficacy in the delivery of anti-brain tumor drugs based on magnetic targeting and low-intensity focused ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging for surgical real-time guidance, and magnetothermal and ultrasonic hyperthermia therapy. Furthermore, we summarize recent findings on the clinical application of MNPs and the research limitations that need to be addressed in clinical translation.Keywords: magnetic nanoparticles, blood-brain tumor barrier, tumor therapy, drug delivery, brain tumor

Keywords

• magnetic nanoparticles
• blood-brain tumor barrier
• tumor therapy
• drug delivery
• brain tumor.