Bioengineered multifunctional nanomedicine for cancer theranostics: integrating targeted drug delivery, molecular imaging, and precision medicine
Shivangi Dubey, Sneha Prakash, Ravi K Deshwal, Manish DwivediAbstract
Objectives
Cancer remains a major global health challenge despite significant advances in diagnosis and treatment. Conventional therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, are frequently constrained by non-specific drug distribution, systemic toxicity, multidrug resistance (MDR), and limitations in early tumor detection. This review aims to critically examine recent advances in nanomedicine for targeted cancer therapy and diagnostic imaging, with particular emphasis on nanocarrier platforms, tumor-targeting strategies, stimuli-responsive drug delivery, and nanoparticle-based imaging.
Methods
A comprehensive review of the recent literature was undertaken to evaluate the application of diverse nanomedicine platforms in oncology. Major nanocarrier systems, including liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, dendrimers, metallic nanoparticles, and quantum dots, were assessed with respect to their physicochemical properties, drug-loading capacity, controlled-release characteristics, targeting potential, and therapeutic applications. Passive and active targeting approaches, including the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect and ligand-mediated targeting, were examined. The applications of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers triggered by tumor-associated pH, temperature, and enzymatic conditions were also evaluated. In addition, the role of nanomedicine in MRI, CT, PET, and fluorescence imaging was reviewed.
Key findings
Nanomedicine provides substantial opportunities for improving the precision and efficacy of cancer treatment by enhancing drug stability, bioavailability, tumor accumulation, and controlled drug release while potentially reducing exposure of healthy tissues. Active and passive targeting strategies can improve the selective delivery of therapeutic agents to tumor sites, whereas stimuli-responsive systems offer additional spatial and temporal control over drug release. Nanoparticle-based contrast and imaging agents have demonstrated considerable potential for enhancing imaging sensitivity, facilitating earlier tumor detection, and enabling real-time assessment of therapeutic responses. Importantly, several nanomedicine platforms also show promise in overcoming MDR and improving overall therapeutic efficiency. However, challenges related to nanotoxicity, pharmacokinetics, manufacturing scalability, regulatory requirements, and long-term clinical safety continue to limit widespread clinical translation.
Conclusions
Nanomedicine represents a rapidly advancing and potentially transformative approach to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Integration of targeted drug delivery, stimuli-responsive nanocarriers, advanced imaging, and theranostic strategies may contribute to more precise and personalized oncology. Continued investigation into safety, manufacturing, regulatory standardization, and clinical validation will be essential for translating promising nanomedicine platforms from experimental studies into routine cancer care.