Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have gained wide attention for their role in biomedicine and as drug delivery vehicles. Their structural tunability, high surface area, and easy functionalization impart significant advantages over conventional materials. In this Review, recent advances in the synthesis, drug delivery, and therapeutic roles of MSNs in the treatment of various neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases are presented. The intention is to understand how MSN formulations that are capable of encapsulating drug molecules can enhance drug delivery by overcoming the blood–brain barrier (BBB) mediated by specific transport processes. The composition and characteristics of the BBB, and how alterations are observed in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, epilepsy, and intracerebral hemorrhage are reviewed. Finally, the factors affecting efficient delivery of MSNs into the brain are summarized, and their most promising functional outcomes are discussed.

Enzymes are powerful versatile biocatalysts, however, industrial application of enzymes is usually hampered by their susceptibility. Bio-inspired Eudragit-α-amylase conjugate (E-AC) was proposed as a biocatalyst for various pharmaceutical and industrial applications. In this study, α -Amylase (E.C. 3.2.1.1) was immobilized by covalent conjugation to Eudragit L-100 under mild conditions. The effect of polymer, carbodiimide and enzyme concentrations on optimization of (E-AC) was investigated. In addition, characterization of the free α -Amylase and E-AC with regard to pH, temperature, kinetic parameters, reusability and operational and storage conditions was carried out. Results showed a shift of the optimum pH of E-AC towards the alkaline side whereas, E-AC exhibited higher thermal stability at all tested temperatures. The kinetic parameters, K_m values were 2.87 mg/ml and 3.15 mg/ml and V_max values were 8.35 mg/ml/min and 8.98 mg/ml/min for free and E-AC, respectively. E-AC retained 85% of the initial activity after five consecutive amylolytic cycles, thus emphasizing its powerful potentials. Operational storage and thermal stability were highly improved as well for E-AC conjugate with an 11.6 stabilization factor in comparison to the free α-amylase. In this study, Eudragit L-100 polymer was successfully used as smart immobilization support to create a reversibly soluble-insoluble enzyme biocatalyst to enforce and extend biotechnological applications of α-amylase in the pharmaceutical industry.