Advances in blood–brain barrier-crossing nanomedicine for anti-glioma

Abstract Glioma is the most prevalent type of primary brain tumor, and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the highest and most deadly type of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor, affecting a significant number of patients each year, with a median overall survival of approximately 14.6 months after diagnosis. Despite intensive treatment, nearly all GBM patients experience recurrence, with a 5-year survival rate of about 5%. The protective BBB and high tumor heterogeneity prevent the effective delivery of drugs, resulting in the treatment failure of various drugs. The emergence of nanometer-scale diagnosis and treatment methods has provided new promising approaches to overcome these difficulties. Thus, our review focuses on the development of BBB-crossing nanomedicine-enhanced chemotherapy and combined therapy applications for glioma. Meanwhile, we also reviewed the strategies to overcome the blood–brain barrier. Additionally, we discuss recent achievements in the area of brain tumor treatment with nanomedicine and the rational design approach, which will offer recommendations for anti-GBM nanomedicine development.