Neutrophil-targeted nanomedicine for ischemic stroke therapy

Ischemic stroke remains a major global health burden with limited treatment options, primarily due to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) impeding effective drug delivery. The neutrophil-targeted nanodrug delivery system emerges as a promising solution. By integrating the natural inflammatory tropism and BBB-penetrating ability of neutrophils with the precise drug-loading and controlled-release capabilities of nanotechnology, this system can efficiently transport drugs to ischemic brain regions. This paper first reviews clinically applied nanoparticles (NPs) for ischemic stroke therapy, then explores strategies for integrating NPs with neutrophils-including binding approaches and design considerations-shedding light on their transformative potential in enhancing drug penetration across the BBB and targeting ischemic foci for enrichment. In summary, existing literature highlights drug delivery as a major therapeutic hurdle in ischemic stroke. While neutrophils hold significant promise for advancing the clinical application of nanotechnology in this field, further research, technological refinements, and accelerated clinical translation remain essential to realize its full clinical value.