Nanoneurology

When the brain or spinal cord are impaired by diseases or injury, it presents a unique challenge for both imaging and treatment of the impaired parts, due to high degree of protection the central nervous system has, which is aimed in maintaining brain homeostasis. One of these forms of protection is the blood-brain barrier, which prevents harmful agents from entering the brain, however, it also prevents therapeutic agents from reaching their target inside the brain parenchyma in sufficient amounts which needed to provide a therapeutic effect. In that regard, nano system may provide a future solution, as they may contain multiple moieties which can simultaneously aid in crossing the blood brain barrier, target the diseased cells inside the brain parenchyma and carry a sufficient amount of therapeutic agents to treat the impairment. In may also contain an imaging core or moiety which then provides a dual modality system, which can treat and image at the same time. In the present chapter, such nano systems for potential treatment and imaging of central nervous system related diseases and injuries will be reviewed.