Nanotechnology-based drug delivery for Parkinson’s Disease: A review on strategies, efficacy and translational hurdles

Abstract

Treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) faces two significant challenges: first, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and second, a therapeutic strategy that alleviates symptoms instead of stopping the disease progression. The BBB prevents over 98% of small-molecule drugs, leaving neuroprotective options mostly inaccessible. Nanotechnology is being developed to overcome existing limitations, paving the way for more precise and effective delivery to the brain. This review goes beyond listing types of nanocarriers to critically synthesise our understanding of nanoparticle (NP)-based strategies for PD, evaluating their therapeutic potential in relation to the challenges of real-world application. Evidence from various systems is evaluated, from lipid-based carriers and polymeric NPs to advanced constructs such as dendrimers, to see how these might enhance brain bioavailability, support sustained release, and directly target disease processes, including alpha-synuclein aggregation and neuroinflammation. The paper thoroughly examines the primary barriers to clinical application, including biocompatibility concerns, scalability of manufacturing, and an evolving regulatory landscape. Looking ahead, PD nanomedicine will focus on designing theranostic platforms with multiple functions. That future will depend upon close collaborations across disciplines to turn compelling preclinical results into practical, disease-modifying therapies.

Keywords: Parkinson's Disease, Nanotechnology, Drug Delivery, Nanparticles, Targeted Therapy