The “fate” of polymeric and lipid nanoparticles for brain delivery and targeting: Strategies and mechanism of blood–brain barrier crossing and trafficking into the central nervous system

Drug delivery to the brain represents one of the most important challenges in the field of nanomedicine, as the study and planning of nanocarriers able to cross the blood brain barrier are topics at the cutting edge of technology and innovation. In this review, we analyze the interventions and progresses in the field, by analyzing the choice of the polymer, of the ligands and the main relevant in vivo and in vitro experiments. A critical overview of these aspects will help in better understanding the status of nanomedicine in the application to central nervous system pathologies along with the future directions