Advances in design and application of molecularly imprinted polymers for selective brain protein recognition in neurology

Neurological diseases affect billions of people worldwide, including an array of infections, strokes, cancers, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, which have seen rising mortality rates in recent decades. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a critical protective layer composed of tightly sealed endothelial cells that restrict the entry of most molecules into the brain. Typically, only small, lipophilic molecules can cross the BBB, while larger or hydrophilic drugs face significant delivery challenges. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are synthetic materials designed to recognize specific molecules, creating 'molecular memory' for selective binding and release. MIPs offer benefits such as high stability, biocompatibility, sustained drug release, and cost-effectiveness, making them promising candidates for drug delivery and biosensing applications. This review explores the potential of MIPs for targeting receptors on the BBB to improve selective drug delivery to the brain, highlighting design strategies and receptor targets critical for internalization.