Multi-stage hybrid antioxidant nanovectors for the treatment of central nervous system pathologies

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases, are considered among the most common and above all growing in our society, resulting in a major socio-economic burden [1]. The causes can be related, to external factors such as, environmental factors, ionising radiation exposure, chemical exposure, to endogenous factors, like inflammation, oxidative stress, vitamin deficiencies, smoking, ageing, or even other factors like following a pre-existing pathology such as stroke, diabetes, depression, tumour [2]. A patient with a neurodegenerative loses a large population of neural cells, leading to nervous system dysfunction [3]. Oxygen is essential for life, but it is also potentially dangerous. There is a complex system of production and control of the balance of oxygen and also of its reactive species, like hydroxyl radicals (• OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide radicals (• O-2) and hypochlorite (ClO-). It has been observed that in neurodegenerative diseases there is an imbalance in the pro-oxidant / antioxidant homeostasis which leads to the production of a toxic excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is also called oxidative stress[1].