Nanomaterials for Parkinson’s Disease in the Aging Brain: Neuroprotection, Regeneration, and Targeted Delivery

Parkinson’s disease (PD) presents a major challenge in aging neuroscience, particularly given the strong influence of age-related biological changes on disease incidence, progression, and therapeutic outcomes. Recent research highlights how cellular dysfunctions associated with the aging brain, including impaired mitochondrial dynamics, disrupted protein homeostasis, neuroinflammatory activation, compromised vascular integrity, and reduced clearance capacity, contribute to and exacerbate PD pathology. These aging-related alterations not only drive neurodegeneration but may also limit therapeutic effectiveness, as traditional interventions often do not fully address the added biological complexities of older age. Despite important advances, the precise mechanisms by which aging shapes PD pathogenesis and treatment response remain incompletely understood, highlighting the need for studies that more directly consider CNS aging within this disease context. Recent progress in nanomaterials and nanotechnology-based platforms is opening new opportunities for innovation in PD research and therapy in the aging brain. Engineered nanoparticles, nanocarriers, and advanced carbon nanomaterials such as graphene offer tailored physicochemical properties that may help address key disease mechanisms, from neuroprotection and regeneration to more specific brain-targeted delivery. However, translating these promising approaches into meaningful therapies for older adults with PD will require a better understanding of how nanomaterials interact with the aging CNS, including altered blood-brain barrier characteristics, distinctive immune responses, and changes in neural circuit vulnerability. While early findings suggest considerable potential, further evaluation in aging-relevant models and populations is still needed, underscoring the value of research that bridges these interdisciplinary areas. This Research Topic aims to bring together studies focused on the design, application, and mechanistic investigation of nanomaterials and nanotechnology-enabled approaches for Parkinson’s disease in the aging brain. The objective is to better understand how these emerging strategies may help address age-related barriers to neuroprotection, regeneration, and targeted delivery, with particular interest in work using aging-relevant models, systems, or patient groups. The collection will also explore mechanistic pathways, age-related considerations in drug delivery and biomaterial compatibility, and factors that may influence successful clinical translation for older populations with PD. We welcome submissions on nanomaterial-enabled strategies that are meaningfully connected to CNS aging and aging-relevant mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease. Particularly encouraged are studies in which aging is reflected in the scientific rationale, model selection, analysis, or interpretation, rather than serving only as general background context. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: - Neuroprotective actions of nanomaterials targeting oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein aggregation in aging-related PD - Nanotechnology-driven regeneration and neural repair strategies in aged dopaminergic systems and circuits - Advanced drug delivery and targeting systems for region- or cell-specific interventions in the aging brain - Novel applications of graphene and other carbon-based nanomaterials for neuroprotection and biointerfaces in aging CNS settings - Age-related host responses, including pharmacokinetics, neuroimmune dynamics, and inflammatory profiles relevant to biomaterial interventions - Use and development of in vitro and in vivo aging models for evaluating nanomaterial effects in PD - Translational and clinical perspectives focused on safety, feasibility, and therapeutic relevance for older PD populations Submissions may include, but are not limited to, original research articles, reviews, perspectives, methods papers, and translational reports Topic editors: Mariano Catanesi, Vanessa Castelli, Michele D'Angelo, Fernando Novio Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79104/nanomaterials-for-parkinsons-disease-in-the-aging-brain-neuroprotection-regeneration-and-targeted-delivery