Potential applications of nanotechnologies to Parkinson's disease therapy

Nanotechnology will play a key role in developing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Nanotechnologies use engineered materials with the smallest functional organization on the nanometre scale in at least one dimension. Some aspects of the material can be manipulated resulting in new functional properties. Nanotechnology could provide devices to limit and reverse neuropathological disease states, to support and promote functional regeneration of damaged neurons, to provide neuroprotection and to facilitate the delivery of drugs and small molecules across the blood-brain barrier. All of them are relevant to improve current therapy of Parkinson's disease (PD). (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.