Nanoparticle-Based Gene Therapy Intervention for Stroke Treatment: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Ischemic stroke is a leading cause of mortality globally.
• Gene therapy holds therapeutic potential for brain disorders but faces delivery challenges.
• Nanotechnology offers solutions for enhancing gene therapy efficacy and targeting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the therapeutic effects of nanoparticles as gene therapy carriers for stroke treatment.
• To assess the efficiency and targeting capabilities of nanocarriers in preclinical stroke models.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review conducted following the PRISMA protocol.
• Searched ISI Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases up to April 24, 2020.
• Included seven studies meeting predefined quality and inclusion criteria after screening 130 articles.

Main Results:

• Gene therapy for stroke demonstrates acceptable therapeutic outcomes, contingent on target gene selection.
• Nanoparticles effectively deliver gene therapy agents, enabling efficient targeting in stroke treatment.
• Specific nanoparticles like PEGylation and PAMAM enhance efficiency and site-specific targeting of stroke locations.

Conclusions:

• Gene therapy is a suitable strategy for stroke complications due to limited brain regeneration.
• Nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery significantly improves the efficiency and utility of stroke treatments.
• Further research into nanoparticle-based gene therapy is warranted for stroke management.