Biomimetic nanocarriers as advanced drug delivery strategies in neurological disorders

INTRODUCTION: Neurological disorders represent a major and growing global health challenge due to complex central nervous system pathology and limited drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier. Conventional therapies are largely symptomatic and often fail to achieve sufficient brain bioavailability or disease modification. Biomimetic nanocarriers have emerged as a promising strategy to improve brain targeting and therapeutic efficacy. AREAS COVERED: This review discusses recent advances in biomimetic nanocarriers for the treatment and diagnosis of neurological disorders. We summarize the pathological mechanisms underlying central nervous system diseases and discuss how cell membrane-coated nanocarriers derived from red blood cells, platelets, immune cells, stem cells, and cancer cells can enhance BBB penetration, immune evasion, and targeted delivery. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to evaluate therapeutic and diagnostic applications in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, ischemic stroke, and glioblastoma. EXPERT OPINION: Biomimetic nanocarriers offer a promising strategy to overcome biological barriers and improve central nervous system drug delivery. However, clinical translation remains challenged by membrane source standardization, scalability, and safety concerns. Future research should focus on reproducible manufacturing, regulatory frameworks, and long-term toxicity evaluation to accelerate clinical adoption.