Natural and Artificial Vesicles and Nanoparticles against Brain Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Brain diseases (BD) affect millions of people around the world. These pathologies (inflammatory, trauma, tumors, stroke and neurodegenerative disease) represent a considerable global social and economic burden and constitute an unquestionable emergency, and a grand challenge for neuroscientists. The presence of various physiological barriers limits accessibility to the brain and reduces the effectiveness of various therapies. Furthermore, the improvement of the solubility, stability and release of the drugs/molecules in specific brain regions and in particular target cells are essential factors in developing an effective therapy. Several studies have reported that extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released from cells of the central nervous system (CNS), playing a significant role in its functions. Indeed, EVs are involved in the control of neurogenesis, in the regulation of the biogenesis of myelin sheaths and in the repair of damaged neurons. For these effects, VEs can be used for therapeutic purposes or as brain drug delivery systems (BDDS). Furthermore, recently artificial nanovesicles, such as cell membrane-based systems, and nanoparticles (NP) have received increasing interest as BDDS to counter BD. EVs, artificial nanovesicles and NP can target a CNS cell-type in specific regions of the brain. In conclusion, EVs, artificial nanovesicles and NP, thanks to their capacities, may represent a promising strategy against BD. Therefore, authors are invited to present original research articles, review papers or communications focused on the EVs and artificial nanovesicles as therapeutic tools to contrast BD.

Dr. Pasquale Picone
Guest Editor

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