Nanotherapy of Glioblastoma-Where Hope Grows

Localization in the central nervous system, diffuse growth, the presence of stem cells, and numerous resistance mechanisms, all make glioblastoma (GBM) an incurable tumor. The standard treatment of GBM consisting of surgery; radio- and chemotherapy with temozolomide provides insufficient therapeutic benefit and needs to be updated with effective modern solutions. One of the most promising and intensively explored therapeutic approaches against GBM is the use of nanotherapy. The first, and so far only, nanoparticle-based therapy approved for GBM treatment is NanoTherm^TM. It is based on iron oxide nanoparticles and the thermal ablation of the tumor with a magnetic field. Numerous other types of nanotherapies are being evaluated, including polymer and lipid-based nanoformulations, nanodiscs, dendrimers, and metallic, silica, or bioderived nanoparticles, among others. The advantages of these nanoscale drug carriers include improved penetration across the blood-brain barrier, targeted drug delivery, biocompatibility, and lower systemic toxicity, while major problems with their implementation involve scaling up their production and high costs. Nevertheless, taking all the impressive benefits of nanotherapies into consideration, it seems obvious that the combined effort of the scientific world will need to be taken to tackle these challenges and implement these novel therapies into clinics, giving hope that the battle against GBM can finally be won.