Nanomaterials for delivery of nucleic acid to the central nervous system (CNS)

Billions of dollars have been invested in the therapeutic application of nucleic acid-based agents in humans in recent years. There are inspirable data from ongoing clinical trial for different diseases. However, in order to widely apply nucleic acid in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of age-related disease, such as neurodegeneration and disorders, suitable, safe and effective drug delivery nanocarriers have to been developed to overcome the blood brain barrier (BBB), which is the most inflexible barrier in human body. Here, we highlight the structure and function of barriers in the central nervous system (CNS) and summary several types of nanomaterials which can be potentially used in the brain delivery nucleic acid.