Gold Nanoparticles in Central Nervous System Diseases: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Therapeutic Opportunities

Central nervous system (CNS) diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders and brain cancers, remain leading causes of disability and death, largely due to limited drug penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have emerged as versatile platforms for CNS applications, with tunable morphology, surface chemistry, and optical properties, enabling both therapeutic and diagnostic use. This review highlights recent advances in the design and optimization of AuNPs for brain-targeted delivery, explores their applications in CNS diseases, and discusses current challenges, safety considerations, and future prospects for clinical translation.