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Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are considered public health problem characterized by neural loss causing cognitive and behavioral impairments. It is currently possible to use drugs capable of controlling the symptoms caused by these diseases. However, treatment is not able to prevent neural loss. In addition, poor solubility, low bioavailability due to the inability for crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are described as the main limitations of the treatment. Nanotechnology involves the development of nanoscale drug delivery systems and they have been employed to optimize therapeutics face to several diseases treatment. In light of this, this review describes the highlights on the fabrication of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems emphasizing mesoporous silica, gold and silver nanoparticles (MSNs, AuNPs and AgNPs, respectively) and their biological behavior for the treatment of Alzheimer's and Parkinson diseases (ADs and PDs, respectively)., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) displays interesting properties for biomedical applications such as high chemical stability, large surface area and tunable pores diameters and volumes, allowing the incorporation of large amounts of drugs, protecting them from deactivation and degradation processes acting as an excellent nanoplatform for drug delivery. However, the functional MSNs do not present the ability to transport the therapeutics without any leakage until reach the targeted cells causing side effects. On the other hand, the hydroxyls groups available on MSNs surface allows the conjugation of specific molecules which can binds to the overexpressed Enhanced Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in many tumors, representing a potential strategy for the cancer treatment. Beyond that, the targeting molecules conjugate onto mesoporous surface increase its cell internalization and act as gatekeepers blocking the mesopores controlling the drug release. In this context, multifunctional MSNs emerge as stimuli-responsive controlled drug delivery systems (CDDS) to overcome drawbacks as low internalization, premature release before to reach the region of interest, several side effects and low effectiveness of the current treatments. This review presents an overview of MSNs fabrication methods and its properties that affects drug delivery as well as stimuli-responsive CDDS for cancer treatment., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)