Surface-Engineered Precision Nano-Systems for Targeted Treatment of Huntington’s Disease: A Review of Recent Advancements

Huntington's disease is a progressive neurological disorder marked by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. Currently, there are no definitive diagnostic tools or effective treatments to halt or reverse the disease. In recent years, surface-engineered nanosystems have emerged as innovative therapeutic platforms, offering significant promise in overcoming the limitations of traditional approaches. These nano systems, including liposomes, dendrimers, polymeric nanoparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles, offer significant potential by targeting and modulating intricate biochemical pathways involved in the progression of Huntington's disease. Their defining advantage lies in the ability to selectively deliver therapeutic agents to specific regions of the brain with high precision. Through the use of various nanoscale carriers, these particles can successfully traverse the protective barrier between the blood and brain tissue, enabling the direct delivery of treatment agents to the regions affected by Huntington's disease. This targeted approach not only enhances the therapeutic efficacy but also minimizes unwanted systemic side effects. This review highlights recent advancements in nanosystem development, addressing previous challenges and setbacks in the field, particularly in overcoming the blood-brain barrier and improving treatment delivery. The review further explores the evolving mechanisms of nanosystem delivery and their functional impact in experimental models of Huntington's disease. While the primary focus remains on therapeutic applications, we also briefly discuss recent developments in nanoparticle-based diagnostics. Although several challenges, particularly regarding comprehensive safety assessments and the current absence of nanoparticles approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for Huntington's disease, this review underscores the transformative potential of nanosystems for future therapeutic applications.