Theranostic Nanovehicles for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Cerebrovascular Diseases

For successful brain delivery, any nanosystem must withstand dominant clearance pressure from the peripheral reticuloendothelial system, marginate from the bulk blood flow to the vascular endothelium, permeate the blood-brain-barrier, and accumulate at the target site. In addition to these common challenges, the nanoparticles intended for cerebrovascular targeting must incorporate appropriate design elements to ensure their retention in the cerebral vasculature. Furthermore, a functionally optimized nanovehicle design demands synergistic amalgamation of the physicochemical properties of various components and their intended physiological effects. Strategies developed in our laboratory to surmount these barriers will be discussed in the talk.