Advances in Nanoparticle Systems for Targeted Therapy against Glioblastoma Multiforme

Innovative treatment options for Gliobastoma Multiforme (GBM) are urgently needed due to poor patient prognosis. This Review provides new perspectives on nanotechnology systems designed as GBM treatments given their potential for translation. The first part of this work gives an overview of the complex disease that is GBM and its current therapies, whilst we describe barriers that must be overcome to enable translation and better therapy outcomes. A broad range of nanoparticle architectures are described, which we break down and analyze in terms of feasibility for translation and efficacy. A particular focus is dedicated to the Dual-Targeting Systems (DTSs), which are designed with one or more target ligands able to transport the system beyond the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) and, at the same time, direct them specifically to GBM cells. We also provide summaries of the challenging aspects that need to be addressed in multitargeted systems to support their translation to clinical testing. This Review summarizes the future perspectives of the most promising nanotechnologies and supports deeper investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying GBM therapeutic failures in order to design better informed nanotechnologies as GBM treatment candidates.