Brain targeted polymeric micelles as drug carriers for ischemic stroke treatment

Ischemic stroke is a central nervous system disease with high morbidity, recurrence and mortality rates. Thrombolytic and neuroprotective therapies are the main therapeutic strategies for ischemic stroke, however, the poor delivery efficiency of thrombolytic and neuroprotective drugs to the brain limits their clinical application. So far, the development of nanomedicine has brought opportunities for the above challenges, which can not only realize the effective accumulation of drugs in the target site, but also improve the pharmacokinetic behavior of the drugs. Among the most rapidly developing nanoparticles, micelles gradually emerging as an effective strategy for ischemic stroke treatment due to their own unique advantages. This review provided an overview of targeted and response-release micelles based on the physicochemical properties of the ischemic stroke microenvironment, summarized the targeting strategies for delivering micellar formulations to the thrombus, blood-brain barrier, and brain parenchyma, and finally described the potentials and challenges of polymeric micelles in the treatment of ischemic stroke.