Mechanism of polymeric micelles for drug targeting to brain tumors

Brain tumors are one of the most terrifying forms of cancer. Brain tumors have proven difficult to treat, owing to their biological properties that often threaten to stifle development. Moreover, these tumors are often situated behind the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which consists of tight junctions and transport proteins that protect fragile neural tissues. As a result, designing noninvasive treatment options that can assist managed and targeted drug delivery to particular regions of the brain is a major challenge in drug production and delivery for neurological conditions. Nanotechnology, in the health domain, has significantly improved the safety and efficacy of various therapeutic agents, especially in terms of drug delivery and targeting. Polymeric micelles with a hydrophilic surface and a hydrophobic interior have a track record of delivering anticancer drugs on the commercial scale. Due to their advantages of nanometric size, custom made functionality, long circulation periods in the bloodstream, and increased tumor aggregation, researchers all over the world have been enticed with this opportunistic nanocarrier for the therapy of brain tumors. This chapter provides a detailed overview of the targeting mechanisms used for the treatment of brain tumors using polymeric micelles.