Fighting Epilepsy with Nanomedicines-Is This the Right Weapon?

Epilepsy is a chronic and complex condition and is one of the most common neurological diseases, affecting about 50 million people worldwide. Pharmacological therapy has been, and is likely to remain, the main treatment approach for this disease. Although a large number of new antiseizure drugs (ASDs) has been introduced into the market in the last few years, many patients suffer from uncontrolled seizures, demanding the development of more effective therapies. Nanomedicines have emerged as a promising approach to deliver drugs to the brain, potentiating their therapeutic index. Moreover, nanomedicine has applied the knowledge of nanoscience, not only in disease treatment but also in prevention and diagnosis. In the current review, the general features and therapeutic management of epilepsy will be addressed, as well as the main barriers to overcome to obtain better antiseizure therapies. Furthermore, the role of nanomedicines as a valuable tool to selectively deliver drugs will be discussed, considering the ability of nanocarriers to deal with the less favourable physical-chemical properties of some ASDs, enhance their brain penetration, reduce the adverse effects, and circumvent the concerning drug resistance.

Automated summary

Epilepsy is a chronic and complex neurological disease affecting approximately 50 million people worldwide. Despite the introduction of numerous new antiseizure drugs, many patients still suffer from uncontrolled seizures, necessitating the development of more effective therapies. Nanomedicine offers a promising approach to deliver drugs to the brain, enhancing their therapeutic potential. This review addresses the general features and management of epilepsy, as well as the challenges in developing better antiseizure therapies. It also discusses the role of nanomedicines in selectively delivering drugs, overcoming physical-chemical limitations, improving brain penetration, reducing adverse effects, and circumventing drug resistance.